American Football Formations: Football 101

What are the formations of football?

There are five basic offensive formations that are standard in football. From these offensive and defensive variations, you could get multiple different transformations or looks based on the complexity.

For example, an offensive coordinator could line up in what looked like a based pro set, which is two receivers, one tight end, two running backs, one quarterback, one center lineman, and four linemen ( 2 guards and 2 tackles).

But then the offense could immediately switch to a single back before the snap, which is three receivers, one running back, one tight end, one quarterback, one center lineman, and four linemen ( 2 guards and a tackle). Understanding the different offensive variations will give your offense intelligence, flexibility, and unpredictability.

The primary offensive formations include:

• I formation: Quarterback directly behind center with hands under center, running backs are spread 3 yards directly behind the quarterback. (1 TE, two receivers, 2 running back, 1 QB, one center, 4 Lineman ( 2 guards, two tackles)
• Pro set: Quarterback has hands under center (1 TE, two receivers, 2 running back, 1 QB, one center, 4 Lineman ( 2 guards, two tackles)
• Wildcat Two running backs have the option of running and throwing -(2 TE, two receivers, 2 running back, one center, 4 Lineman ( 2 guards, two tackles)
• Pistol: Quarterback 5 -7 feet behind center (1 TE, three receivers, one running back, 1 QB, one center, 4 Lineman ( 2 guards, two tackles) NOTE: Center will underhand throw the ball to QB.
• Single Back: Quarterback directly with hands under center (1 TE, three receivers, 1 running back, 1 QB, one center, 4 Lineman ( 2 guards, two tackles)

What are the different offensive formations in football?

• Shot Gun – A popular football formations offense. The most highlighted characteristics of the offensive shotgun Formation is where the quarterback is located. Rather than have hands under center and located directly behind the center, the quarterback is situated about five yards behind the line and center lineman, thus requiring the center to underthrow him the football. The extra yard space gives the QB spare time to throw the ball and to provide wide receivers more time to run pass routes. The purpose of Shotgun Formation, but as it’s designed for passing, it usually makes use of more receivers.
• I formation -This fundamental formation usually uses two WRs, two RBs, and one TE. It gets its name from the I formation of two running backs lining up behind the quarterback, one behind the other; This looks like an “I” dotted by the QB. The Wide Receivers are lined up out wide with one on the line of scrimmage and one yard off the line of scrimmage, and the TE is next to a tackle. The TE side is called the strong side, and the opposite offensive side is the weak side. Popular I formation variations include the fullback favoring either the week side or strong side with or replacing running backs, tight ends with wide receivers, or vice versa.
• Single set back – The single back, as its name implies, uses one Running Back positioned behind the QB. The running back can line up behind the QB or offset to either side of the quarterback. The loss of the running back now provides an opportunity to add WRs. Common offensive single back variations include: Two WRs split wide with two TEs on each side of the line. Three WRs with one in wide receiver closer to the lineman, which is called trips of the slot receiver. Five Wide receivers no Tight Ends, and no running backs, also known as the empty set or empty offensive backfield.
• Pro set – Pro Set
 The base Pro Set formation uses the same personnel as the I-Formation. The primary variation is how the running backs line up behind the quarterback. In the Pro Set, the running backs line up in a split back-formation, meaning one to the right and left side of the QB.
• Wing T – Much like the Pro Set, only the WR away from the TE is directly next to the guard off the line 2 – 4 yards.
• Wildcat – Includes 2 Wide receivers, two tight ends, a running back and full back for the purpose of creating a more powerful explosive and running based offense.

What is a double-wing offense?

The Double Wing Offense is a running and passing offense that features two tight-ends, two wing-backs(players that can catch and run), one fullback, and a quarterback in the backfield. This offense will allow the offensive line to double team the defense very quickly.

How do you beat double-wing offense?

Corners play in cover two zones, with each having the deep half of the football field to their side. If the motioning wing on their side goes away to the other hand, the corner must now play the run aggressively and look for the counterplay. If the wing to their side blocks down to the end, then it is a run, and they again must look to play the run aggressively and not give up a big running play to the edge.

The basics defensive formations include:

• 4-3
• 3-4
• Dime – typically man to man
• Nickel – typically man to man

Most Popular Defensive Formations

There are four fundamental popular parts of defensive formations: the defensive lineman, linebackers, and the secondary, which includes safeties and cornerbacks.

Defensive changes to defensive formations come in many looks, combinations, and disguises of players at each of these levels. Traditionally, defensive formations like 3-4, 4-3, and dime are named based on the defensive linemen and linebackers.

While smart defensive coaches use different disguises with personnel formations, here are primary defensive formations that have worked throughout all levels of football. The great Alabama football program uses a combination of 4-3 and 3-4 defensive schemes.

3-4

The 3-4 base defense uses three hands down defensive linemen and four linebackers (LB). This includes four defensive backs ( 2 cornerbacks and two safeties) in the secondary. The defensive line has two Defensive Ends (DE) flanking a Defensive lineman Tackle (DT), usually a Nose Tackle (NT) that lines up directly over the offensive center or in the gap to the left or right. The second level of Linebackers has two Inside LBs (ILBs) who line up behind the middle of the line, and two Outside Linebackers (OLB) who usually line up behind and to the side of the DEs.

The 3-4 defensive formation usually includes two Cornerbacks (CB), a Strong Safety (SS), and a Free Safety (FS). The 3-4 defensive scheme is used to take advantage of the speed, tackling, and playmaking abilities of the Linebackers. It is used against base offenses consisting of one or two WRs, one or two RBs, and one or two TEs.

4-3

The 4-3 swaps an LB for an additional down defensive lineman, in this case, an additional DT between the DEs. One Middle Linebacker (MLB) and two OLBs. Commonly designated strong side mobile LB to cover the opposing TE and weak-side pass rush on the side without the TE. Similar to the 3-4, the secondary has two CBs and two Safeties. The 4-3 is a fundamental defense based on creating favorable defensive matchups: line vs. line, middle linebacker against running backs, Linebackers versus Tight ends, and defensive backs matches up equally t receivers.

Nickel

The Nickel defensive formation uses a four-player defensive line up and three linebackers and five defensive backs. Defensive coaches may interchange players by removing a defensive lineman an adding a fast linebacker that can cover. Or by removing a linebacker with safety that can support the run and cover receivers. The Nickel defensive formation is used when the offensive formation is leaning towards a passing tendency such as one back or shotgun formation.

Dime

The dime package adds and additionally DB by subtracting an LB to match up against the fast receivers. Defensive coaches can add defensive backs or linebackers that can support the run and cover receivers.

What is a Cover 2 defense?

Cover two defense is straightforward is the deepest players called the safeties would line up 12 – 15 yards off the ball and divide the deepest parts of the field into halves. Each will protect their side of the filed. Cornerbacks and Linebackers will be responsible for the underneath area.

The Cover 2 defense schemes can be used by flag football, pop warner, high school, and collegiate teams, just about any team.

Cover 2 is a great defensive concept for defensive players, coaches, and new learners to understand. Cover 2 does not require a player to follow a player all over the field like a man to man defensive schemes but rather assigns each defensive player a zone on the field to protect.

The cover two ideology is that each player will stay in and protect his zone in coverage 2; this makes it hard for offensive athletes to use athletic ability to run through or get above the defense.

Defenses will use the Cover 2 scheme in third-down-and-long situations for the offense, where they need to gain close to 12 – 15 yards or more to get a first down.
The Cover 2 defense can be great for defenses that can create pressure with a limited number of lineman usually 3 or 4 defensive linemen. Preferably three linemen.

When you have a defense that can create pressure with only three linemen, you have the basis for a great defense. This means that the three down lineman defense can beat the five linemen of offense.

With the three linemen creating pressure on the quarterback on their own, this then allows the other seven or eight players to cover the rest of the field like a blanket.

What are the Strengths of Cover 2 Defense?

The Cover 2 defense is the most straightforward defensive scheme and most used. It is easy for players to understand because most players are only responsible for covering a small zone area of the field instead of trying to remember multiple reads, and have complex responsibilities with detailed defensive schemes.

Keeps the Offensive Player In Sight – The Cover 2 defense was designed to prevent big plays and yardage gains by plays on offense. Cover 2 coverage keeps receivers to routes underneath the defense and makes it hard for fast receivers to gain big yardage and momentum-changing Touchdowns.

Covers Receivers  – Cover 2 requires that seven defensive players are dropping into coverage the four defensive backs and three linebackers.

Allows Defensive Linemen to Play Forward– The defensive linemen in a Cover 2 defense are asked to do what they usually like and what it more comfortable for big men to do, and that is moving forward and attack straight ahead. They are asked to put pressure on the QB and the offense straight up the field.

What are the Weaknesses of a Cover 2 Defense?

Cover 2 defense is vulnerable to the Run – Since the Cover 2 defense has every linebacker moving backward as they drop into cover 2 zone coverage areas. Cover 2 can also be vulnerable to delay running plays.

The other reasons are the linebacker’s first step to back up away from scrimmage instead of aggressively moving up toward the line of scrimmage to stop the run or rush the QB or stop the QB from a draw.

Underneath Offensive Passes – Because both safeties drop deep into coverage, and because the linebackers drop into coverage, short crossing passing routes can be available in cover two defensive packages.

The Run – Because it’s susceptible to underneath passes and running plays, it’s challenging to run the Cover 2 defense on every play unless the defensive line can create some serious pressure upfront on every play.

What is a cover three defense?

Cover 3 is a popular zone defense where three defensive backs, cornerbacks and free safety divide the deepest area of the field into thirds, with four defenders such as the strong safety, linebackers, nickel or dime cornerbacks covering the underneath.

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