I Formation First Look

**Fluff E Bunny** · 10-24-2004 08:53 PM

(PART ONE)

OK, I didn't have as much time to do this as I would have liked (had a wedding to go to yesterday), but I have a first pass.

Lets look at the five basic 'standard' I formations (not including specialized I's like Maryland): I Form Y Trips, I Form Tight, I Form Twins, I Form Slot and I Form Normal

Here's what they all look like. Players enclosed in parentheses are eligible for motioning, although not all plays will allow you to motion all valid players.

I Form Y Trips:

.........T..G..C..G..T..(TE)................WR
.................Q....................(Y)
...............(FB)
...............(TB)

The FB motions to the outside shoulder of the T/TE on either side. The TB always motions away from the TE's side and lines up as a WR on that side about 5 to 7 yards away from the tackle. The TE can just move to the other tackle.

I Form Tight:

.....TE..T..G..C..G..T..(TE)
.................Q...............................( WR)
...............(FB)
...............(TB)

The TB can motion to the left as a WR or to the right as a slot. FB motion is to the outside shoulder of the TE's. The WR just goes to the other side. The TE on the right can be motioned to the outside shoulder of the other TE. (This formation just begs to have the left TE subbed out for another OL)

I Form Twins:

WR............T..G..C..G..T..TE
.......(S)............Q
......................(FB)
......................(TB)

Motioning the slot all the way over effectively puts you into I Normal. FB is as above, and the TB can be motioned left just to the right of the slot to give a trips look or right to give you another WR split out.

I Form Slot:

WR............T..G..C..G..T.............(WR)
........................Q.............(S)
......................(FB)
......................(TB)

FB is as above. TB can be motioned left to become a slot receiver - giving you a spread look - or right to the left of the slot to give you trips. The slot guy can change sides. The right WR can be motioned left to the left slot, and the right slot will step forward to the LoS to cover the tackle. Its a way to get your two best receivers on the same side, if nothing else.

I Form Normal:

WR............T..G..C..G..T..(TE)
........................Q......................... .(WR)
......................(FB)
......................(TB)

The TB can motion left or right to become a slot receiver. FB is as above. TE can just switch sides.

Obviously, since you can motion as many as four different players in these formations, you can achieve a multitude of looks. The basic philosophy is this:

1) First try to motion a guy who isn't needed in the play away from the play to see if you can draw a defender away from the play side if facing man to man.

2) You want to motion a guy who ins't really involved in the play TO the play side versus zone to add an extra body for blocking. For these first two, we're generally talking about the slot receiver, but it is important to get the TE motioned as well, especially for dive plays, to give you numbers to a side, or if you are facing a defense that likes to shift to the TE's side, to draw defenders to the opposite side fom the play.

3) For passing, you want mismatches and/or single coverage.

4) Run like hell, then start pulling out the PA passes.

5) Use the option plays to keep the defense honest.

Next I'll go over the entire set of plays for I Form Y Trips....

**Fluff E Bunny** · 10-24-2004 09:15 PM

(PART TWO)

The I Form Y Trips playbook, page one.

I spent my time today labbing this formation out and learning the plays it has. I then did a play-now game with 8 minute quarters (so I had more time to get used to calling the plays in a real game situation). The results were staggering for me, really. I threw for over 330 yards at a 60% clip. This is for a guy who usually throws for maybe 150 yards (6 minute quarters) and a whopping 20-30% completion rate. Even more impressive to me was that I ONLY ran this formation, so the D had plenty to key on and they still had a hard time stopping it.

OK, so here are the plays, left to right, top to bottom in the book and my comments:

COUNTER LEAD: This is your basic misdirection play. It is honestly the same play as Weak Counter because you can hotroute the run direction. I wish they had gotten rid of one of the two in exchange for another pass play. This is a hit or miss play. I have had it go for big yards and for 5 yard losses. But, you need to run it to keep the defense honest.

- Motion the slot to clear out if man coverage.
- Motion the FB out wide if they show zone (move the slot back if the man covering him doesn't move).
- If you have potential numbers to the other side (eg if you are facing a nickle), hot route the run, then motion the TE over.

SLOT POST: Probably the best play in the formation for passing.

- Motion TB Left:
- If you see 2 safeties back, drop back and pass to the TB who will be running an inside slant after the motion and normally draws coverage from a LB. A mismatch!
- If you see 1 safety back:
- With tight to medium coverage, drop back a few steps then just lob to the WR. This is one of those 'rediculous' deep passes, but honestly the DB will just often not be as fast as the WR and you are generally looking at one on one coverage because the slot takes the safety out with the post.
- If they give you a large cushion in coverage, you can quick hit the WR because his route is actually a very shallow angle route.

- Motion the slot left:
- vs Man just deep lob the WR again. You want one one one matchups any time you can get them, plus you're stretching the D to keep them honest for your more bread and butter short stuff. You can also hit the slot WR who is now doing a fade. But, I found for that play to work you need to be lined up on the hashmark and do a medium powered pass to get it complete. Not high % though.
- vs Zone, drop back and hit the TB for a short gain. Usually you won't get anything with this, and might even end up with a loss. But I've seen the guy covering that zone completely wiff on the tackle and the TB can pick up yards. High % but low yield.

I generally recommend using the TB motion instead of the slot motion (not a lot of point to FB or TE motion that I can see).

WEAK COUNTER: As I said, its basically the same as Counter Lead. Wasted play in the book.

continues....

**Fluff E Bunny** · 10-24-2004 09:20 PM

PART THREE

I Form Y Trips playbook page 2

FB DIVE: This is your bread and butter play. In my test game my FB ended up with about 60 yards. You can motion only the slot and TE. Mix it up along with hot routing to change the gap.

TRIPLE OPTION REVERSE: I think this is another wasted play. It roughly the same as the Triple Option play, but the 'reverse' part slows it down and makes it less effective. Use the counters for misdirection not this.

FB FAKE TOSS: We've already discussed this on the board, but this is your change-up play from the FB Dive. Use it later in the game after you've got the D used to seeing the Dive. Not generally a huge gainer, but not bad either. A little too slow developing for my tastes.

continues...

**Fluff E Bunny** · 10-24-2004 09:29 PM

PART FOUR

I Form Y Trips playbook page 3.

HB DIVE: The other bread and butter play besides the FB Dive. Same deal here, motion the slot or TE as desired, follow FB through the hole or bounce outside.

PA STOP AND GO: This is a play you go to after establishing the dive, since that's the PA motion for this. I wouldn't use it on a short distance down since the D will try to get more pressure in those cases, so medium or long and maybe reserve it for 1st or 2nd down. Simple to run, motion TE or slot, let the PA go, drop back, lob to the WR. If you've established the run this gets to almost be a money play. Do NOT gun it, or you wont get your money back

HB OFF TACKLE: This uses zone blocking, so you all know the story. I've had it go for some big gains though but it just isn't a go-to play.
- Hot route to the opposite side and motion the TE over.
- Short Motion the slot over and snp when he gets close to the outside of the TE. If you're lucky he'll give you a decent block outside and you can scoot around for some yards.

continues...

**Fluff E Bunny** · 10-24-2004 09:35 PM

PART FIVE

I Form Y Trips playbook page 4:

FAKE RIGHT OPTION LEFT: Don't even bother with this play. It is a misdirection play but it just seems to get blown up. If you can make it work for you, then bravo.

PA HB TOSS: Another play that just isn't terribly effective. Might be good with some hot routes, perhaps an IN for the slot. I don't hot route receivers much because the f'n HFA screws it up....even if you're in your own damn stadium!!!

STRONG TOSS: Another so-so play. Not a go-to play but you should run outside enough to keep the D honest for your dive plays.
- Motion slot to clear vs man.
- Short motion slot or motion FB right vs zone.
- Hot route opposite side and then motion TE over to that side.

continues...

**Fluff E Bunny** · 10-24-2004 09:43 PM

PART SIX

I Form Y Trips playbook page 5:

SLOT QUICK: Short and quick pass play. Very, very effective. If you have tight coverage, the quick hitter still usually completes for a short gain. Sometime when you hit the slot, the WR will come over and pick the defender and your slot may roll around to the right for a nice gain.
- Motion TB or TE left away from the slot. Snap and gun to the slot for a short gain.
- Motion slot left. Snap and gun to the WR.

SPEED OPTION: Like most speed option plays in the game, this one is pretty good, if for no other reason than to test the D's outside containment. You can use whatever combination of run hot routing and motion of TE/slot that you want. But always try to go to where you perceive the D to be weakest.

OPTION PASS: I don't recommend trying the pass part of this. If you call it, just run the option. Overall I would just skip this play.

continues...

**Fluff E Bunny** · 10-24-2004 10:02 PM

PART SEVEN

I Form Y Trips playbook page 6:

SPRINT OPTION: Not as good as speed option, but OK.
- If you want to run it left, motion the TE over to the left.
- If you want to run it to the right, hot route and then motion the Slot to see if you can clear out his defender if facing man. If not, leave him there and motion the FB out to the right instead.

MAN FLOW: This is a really nice play, and I only ever motion the slot over. The primary target here is the WR, with the TB as your outlet running his angle route. 3-3-5 can make this one tough to complete.
- If, after you have motioned the slot, there is only one DB 'outside the box' on the WR's side, you're gonna quick hit the WR. To do this, you must hold back on the analog all the way back when you snap. Snap and gun to the WR. Holding back on the analog keeps the pass from going to the intended spot of the hook route which is farther up field...where the DB is waiting to pick it off. Normally the WR will end up diving for the ball and you get an easy 5 yards.
- If, after the slot is motioned, you have more than one DB still left over to the WR's side, you need to read the LB's. Snap the ball and drop back.
- If the LB's come inside (blitz or whatever) or take deep drops, just take the nice easy throw to the TB who will be open in that middle gap.
- If an LB is spying or locks onto the TB in tight man coverage, keep dropping back and try to hit the slot WR who will now be running a deep post route.

TRIPLE OPTION: This is your keep-em honest play, especially if you've had success running the Slot Post play with the TB motion. You can hot route this to the other direction depending on D strength (line slides etc)
- If the D-Line is in normal alignment or spread, run the FB dive phase.
- If the line is spread, follow the FB in with your QB as a lead play.
- For the dive phase, motion the TB so you get the same 'look' as the Slot Post play with TB motion.
- If the D-line is in normal alignment or pinched, run the QB/TB phase.
- For this phase, motion the slot WR.

A note about the option plays. If you motion the TB out wide, and then motion him back inside, you can snap while he is still in motion and he'll be 'at speed' for the option from the start. This can get you a few extra yards.

**Fluff E Bunny** · 10-24-2004 10:08 PM

I'm going to try to look at the rest of the I formations in the following order as I get the chance:

I Form Tight - This is a brutal running formation
I Form Slot - This looks like it could be pass happy with up to four receivers.
I Form Normal - The standard.
I Form Twins - Possible zone flooder.

I'll also try to draw up the formations and each of their motioned 'looks'.

**Air Raid** · 10-25-2004 11:40 AM

Interesting stuff!!...will have to check it out tonight!!

**kbell97** · 10-25-2004 02:19 PM

Very true Air Raid , nice stuff indeed. I haven't used this offense yet this year. I am definately going to print this out and try it. Nice Read Fluff

**Fluff E Bunny** · 10-29-2004 11:06 AM

A little followup here. I haven't had time to totally lab out the rest of the formations. What I have done, however, is start a dynasty with a created team of B level (replacing Duke in the ACC, called East Math College Second campus, or EMC2...the Pi Rho Maniacs

) to see if the I formation works without stuf players like I had for FSU.

The verdict. So far yeah. But I've only played Baylor and Navy

What I have found is that the FB really needs to be included in the offense. I had a lot of success with the FB smash play out of I Form Slot, and that was against a 4-3. I didn't use any option, but I think I may try it against better defenses since that gives me both the inside FB dive and outside TB running.

The Slot Post and Man Flow plays I outlined earlier are just scary effective. My first game I threw for over 300 yards and better than 60%. That's just not how things normally go for me

**Air Raid** · 10-29-2004 12:30 PM

...Well Fluff...I'm sarting to see the light with the I-Formation....so much so that I can't really say that the offense I have been running the last week or so is a true Spread offense...kind of a surprise coming from me....

....It's more of a 50/50 Power Spread, meaning that I run 50% Gun and 50% under center.....but still pound the ball about 70% of the time.....

Here is the Playbook I created for this offense:

I Form-Y-Trips
I Form Normal
Ace Normal
Ace Trips
SG 2 Back Slot
SG Ace Twins
SG Bunch
SG Trips
SG Spread

....The Running game is four demensional...(1) Option (2) Power (3) Misdirection (4) Single Wing (QB Runs)....

....On an average of 50 runs the distribution looks like this...HBs 24 rushes....QB 14 rushes...FB 10 rushes...WR 2 rushes

...The FB is a MAJOR part of my rushing attack...he gets the tough inside yards....

...The HB serves as a Superback...he gets carries and receptions...but I split the action between two backs to keep them fresh...

...The passing game is three demensional...(1) PA (2) Quick Passes (slants, crosses) (3) Screens.....

....TEs are pure blockers in this system (they serve as extra linemen) and the majority of the passes go to the WRs and the Backs.....

...I have found at least two "go to" (high %) plays in each formation that really open the field up and make it tough to guess what I will do next....think of it as a combination of Rich Rodriguez's Power Spread Offense, Lou Holtz's I-Formation Offense and Mike Shanahan's PA passing attack.......

**Fluff E Bunny** · 10-29-2004 01:27 PM