Formations list

This article is the list of formations in American football. Some of them are historical like flying wedge, because the leagues banned them. Modern or better-developed groupings replaced other ones. Not all representatives have professional usage. They’re popular among high schools, amateurs, colleges, or everybody. Please consider that each formation has hundreds of exploit variations.

Offensive formations

T formation. It’s the precursor of modern game patterns. That type puts the quarterback directly under the center differentiating it from the single wing where the quarterback had to catch the ball on the go. It forms the letter T lining with one tight end and receiver or two tight ends aside. Three running backs stand five yards behind them, fixing the letter shape.

I formation.The performers stand vertically with the quarterback in shotgun position as leader. Other participants are running backs. One is the fullback, while the other is simply running back or tailback. This formation is mostly historic because modern substitutes replaced it.

It has the variations Maryland I and Power I. They suppose using three running backs instead of two in classic formation. Despite I grouping being obsolete, some teams still prefer it in goal situations.

Single set back. As we understand here, the single running back arrives here. It doesn’t employ the fullback. Other players in the line of scrimmage are tight ends or receivers. This formation is typically passing but it showed the efficiency in the running plays because the defenders must out at least one player from the middle of the field. It also supposes an exploit of the extra wide receiver or slotback.

Pro set. It has a similar nature with the I formation. However, the running backs behind the quarterback are split. The set author is Clark Shaughnessy who developed it from T variation.

Single wing. This formation is archaic. Some experts consider it the mother of all football groupings available today. Single wing has some real threats. Interesting that the quarterback stands some yards behind the center with the running back at one side of the field. The whole formula is two tight ends and 4 backs. One of the RBs, wingback, positions outside. The present QB was the tailback earlier. He received the snap on the fly.

The first variation here is the Notre Dame presented by Knute Rocken. It was a well-designed single-wing grouping. The wingback had the option to leave their wing, converting to the more tight halfback. Another option was the A formation – the primary New York Giants weapon of the 1930s and partly 1940s.

Wildcat. The formation focuses on the best receiver or the running back. The quarterback here often changes function because the center snaps the ball directly to the runner rather than the QB. Its frequency has been falling since the 1960s. Miami Dolphins granted 2008 memorable season where the wildcat dominated in the regular season.

Double wing.The double wing is the improved version of the single version. It had an important role from 1912 till the T formation spread around the league in the 1920s-1930s.

The concept supposes fewer plays than any other present-day formation. It’s the mix of I formation with Power Series, which was the variation of the Wing-T grouping. Some fans and journalists considered it the bastard of the I and T. You have the rare chance to see it professionally, but it’s still popular among youth teams.

Short punt formation.This grouping was popular when the team had to make an effort to score. It’s still an excellent offensive weapon. The short punt helped the players to release the successful punt on the second or third down as they supposed the dual threat of the punt pass. Three backs efficiently protected the passer and punter from the defense.

Shotgun.We know it as the quarterback’s position. But it’s part of the bigger formation. Yes, the QB stands five yards behind the center to see the defense better. It exploits three running backs or two tight ends in many ways. But the scheme with the quarterback, one running back, one tight end, and three wide receivers are more widespread. That formation is usually passing, but the quarterback can use it to run itself or address the ball to the running back, who runs further to the goal.

Pistol. That’s one of the shotgun variations. But the quarterback stands one yard closer to the center than in the shotgun. The running back is behind the quarterback. This formation aims to widen the dimensions to the running play and disrupt the defensive plans and timing as the quarterback delivers the ball to the halfback. Its advantage is that the QB can observe both the offensive line and defense.

Swinging gate. This formation is quite unusual because the center is alone while other linemen concentrate near the lines on the line of scrimmage, and the quarterback is in the shotgun position. The formation’s unique feature is the center’s eligibility to receive the ball. To do so, it must be the farthest outside on or near the scrimmage line.

It showed the efficiency in short-yardage trick plays. For example, the screen pass to the strong side may cause the defensive blocking push. In the case of the gate trick play, there is a mismatch. One side (primarily the offense) gets an advantage allowing them to reach all they want.

V formation is the invention of Oklahoma State University coach Os Doenges. The players formed the letter V with the running back in the bottom. That scheme had great success until OSU lost one game 0-7.

Wishbone involves three running backs. One of them stands right behind the quarterback while two others split behind the fullback colleague. The receiving part contains two tight ends plus one or two receivers who are ready to catch the ball and run to the goal line. The wishbone is the primary system for most offenses. The teams prefer handling the gamed shield between the quarterback and running back who runs further rather than passing pattern.

It developed in the 1960s and dominated for a couple of decades. This formation is rarely used professionally, but some college and high school teams successfully exploit it. If the drafted player’s college exploited the wishbone, it will use it in some first games before it practices the alternatives.

Flexbone formation gives the offensive flexibility due to a softer lineup than the wishbone parent. The tight ends operate as the wide receivers in most cases, but sometimes they’re real ends. The running or slotbacks will start moving prior to the snap. That formation helps to run the triple option or even some trick plays aimed to confuse the defense or get some advantage.

Wing-T is similar to the flexbone. It appeared in 1938 as the T-play was invented to mix the single-wing and T formations. Single-wing generated the attack strength, and the T-formation loaned the quarterback under center. Some high schools still use it as their dominant formation.

Five-wide is the empty backfield offense. The coordinator has an advantage because the team uses five wide receivers and a quarterback without any tight ends or running backs in the backfield. That approach helps to spread the field and find the gap between the defenders. Thus, the team can use various inside or screen passes thanking to this formation.

Goal line formation.As seen from the name, this grouping is typical for the final assault of the opponent’s end zone. It uses 3 tight ends and 2 running backs or 2 tight ends and 3 running backs. The wide receivers are absent here. One of the players is an extra player performing as the extra blocker. Its usual position is the offensive lineman or defender.

Victory supposes the formation when the team needs to win the game by running out of the clock. All players round the quarterback to allow him down the ball safely. That involves a seven-man offensive line with two upbacks just behind it.

Tackle spread</em is unusual because it spreads the tackles through the field and removes all ineligible linemen from the middle. Only center remains there in the company of the guards. Their task is to keep an eye on the quarterback who is behind. The final link here is running back. The tackles cover the slotbacks who position near the edge.

It appeared in the 1950s, thanking efforts of Henry & Emory College coaches. The formation’s primary purpose is an unexpected wrinkle to confuse the defense to cause their incorrect lineup while the team performs a pass. That compensates for the offensive line’s ineligibility to receive the forward pass or advance to the goal line by changing the pace. However, the diminished interior is the reason why the quarterback is vulnerable to threats. The common first action is the quick pass to the receiver. If the defenders blocked the screen pass possibility, the quarterback may run the streak route itself or deliver this task to the open receiver. Later some coaches changed the methods and lineups. For example, the New England Patriots exploited the eligible-number receiver as the ineligible tackle while the tackle was announced legal receiver.

Defensive formations

4-3 defense. This defense is one of the simplest defenses in football. It supposes an exploit of four offensive linemen, and three linebackers. Other player roles vary. They are frequently corner- and defensive backs. It’s effective against the pass and run offenses. Each player knows the corresponding opponent. The cornerbacks and safeties counteract the receivers and running backs. The linebackers participate in the blitzes trying to sack the quarterback. The period from the 1950s created the network of the 4-3 variations, including umbrella and slide.

6-1 defense appeared as the counter to the Cleveland Browns’ offense in the 1950s. Six linemen plus 1 linebacker were the handles for the umbrella from four defensive backs. The tactic allowed the defensive ends to move to the passing coverage if needed. The defense has different variations, but you rarely meet it today.

3-4 formation is useful when the team needs extra linebacker. It consists of three linemen, and four LBs. Others are defensive backs in the classic lining – two cornerbacks and two safeties. The coaches choose larger players in the front seven lineup. The single tackle looks at the nose of the ball, that’s why it has the nose tackle or nose guard nickname.

2-5 defense is the extra-powerful formation developed from the 3-4 defense. It adds one more linebacker who replaces the nose guard or stands somewhere in its area. This formation gives some flexibility to the personal coverage and zone blitzes. Its author is the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur who evolved it from the 46 defense invented by Buddy Ryan. It was favourite Philadelphia Eagles’ formation in the 1940s and 1950s. That’s why it received the name 3-4 Eagles.

4-4 defense – four defensive linemen and four linebackers counteract the runs. These players form the tackle box, that’s why some experts consider it eight-in-the-box. Sometimes it sacrifices the deep coverage against the pass formations. The players regroup to create mismatches to get some advantage. For example, the outside linebacker often guards the opposing slotbacks.

As the name shows, 5-3 defense consists of five linemen and three linebackers. The other three performers are defensive backs, primarily safeties. It evolved from the defenses as a response to the improving offenses in the thirties, like T formation. Five-men defenses were standard in the 1950s, with the Browns as the leading successor in using this defense.

The coaches used the 5-2 formation in the 1950s. It exploited the classical linemen plus two linemen behind them. History considers 5-2 the first defense with four defensive backs, as we can see them today. Two of them are safeties, and the rest performers are cornerbacks. Later the teams from Oklahoma evolved it by replacing the defensive ends with additional linebackers. It seemed 3-4 but with semantic differences. And the main of them is the stability of the avant-garde stability.

6-2 defensemeans six players in the defensive line. It helps to ruin the strong offenses. However, it was dominating formation in early football, especially in the 1930s. The grouping reduced its popularity in the middle of the twentieth century because five linemen became the temporary standard.

38 defense is the combination of techniques used there. 3 techniques are typical for the defensive guards, and 8 are defensive ends. Tackles are the single linemen down the line of scrimmage. The defense combines the 4-4 and 6-2 formations.

Another example of such an approach is 46 defense. It was the precursor of the listed above 38 defense. Buddy Ryan staked on the 4-4 formation but exploited the personnel from 4-3 plus one safety playing as the linebacker in the box.

There are three versions of why the defense has such a number. One is that the coach planned to exploit 4 defensive linemen and six linebackers. The second considers it designed for the hard-hitting safety Doug Plank who starred thanking Buddy Ryan. There is the third version that it named the location of the outside linebackers. The linemen shifted in the opposite way, plus one end stood 1 or 2 yards further than the tackle on the weak offensive formation. It’s the corrected version of the Notre-Dame offense. That philosophical concept was based on the unbalanced field to sudden the opponents.

Seven-man lines are rare today. You can meet them only in goal-line situations.That helps the leaders to prevent the tie-scoring or winning by the opponents. Otherwise, the losers can try to build such a formation for less fatal loss if they have no time to win or tie the game. That sturdy grouping concentrates the seven best defenders blocking and intercepting the pass.

There are also some nickel defenses that use the extra defensive back or various combinations on the levels. For example, there may be strong and weak safeties instead of one safety per side and cornerbacks. It may be 4-2-5, 3-3-5, and so on. These extra players have nicknames: dollar, dime, etc. Such defenses are typical for winning situations when the leading team wants to power the pressure on the offense attempting to avoid tying or losing the game at all.

One of these groupings is dime formation. It gets its name thanking the name of the sixth defensive back – the dime. It equals two nickels in previous formations.

Another variation is the em>prevent formation. Here we can see only the defensive back equivalent to the dollar. Thus, the seventh performer is something like safety. This formation happens in extreme passing or run plays, e.g., Hail Mary. Eight and more defenders rarely happen in practice. Mostly often, you can meet 3-1-7 r 4-0-7 groupings when the defense excludes linebackers in favor of the proper backward wall.

Special teams formations

The punting formation remains some offensive formations but with one major difference. The upbacks, or three running backs, build an extra line of defense, protecting the punter and holder from the defense’s blocking attempt. Two wide receivers or the gunners aim to stop the punt returner and are ready to help the partners to catch the ball if needed.

Field goal requires nine offensive linemen, one holder, and a kicker. Seven performers are on the line as usual for most offenses, and tight ends are slightly off the line of scrimmage. The holder and kicker are the farthest but the main actors. They position seven or eight yards further.

Kickoff formation is the straight line standing some feet from the 50-yard central line at the beginning of the odd quarter and usually the 20-yard line of the team who has received the touchdown.
There are no strict line orders except the rule that the kicker stands one yard ahead of its partners.

Kicking formations look like in the association football. All eleven defenders spread throughout the fields. The kick returners usually tend to stand closer to field the deep kicks. Two performers stand 20 yards apart from the kicker if it performs the squib kick. Two more defenders stand in the middle part of the field. The remaining players stand 10 yards from the kicker as any other defensive line.