Deep Dive: A Pro-Style Formation System

An example of a formation system reflecting those used by some NFL teams.

Introduction

NFL teams have a huge arsenal of concepts, formations, packages, and various other schemes. This article is going to introduce a fictional example of what a formation system in an NFL playbook may look like, and demonstrate how an NFL might structure their formation calls. This will not cover personnel packages, shifts, or motions. The primary influence for this article is Kyle Shanahan’s system.

Base Rules

For this article, skill players will be given letters which are as follows:

• Y: Tight end. This is the apex player of the system. Every formation has a “right” or “left” call. That direction indicates what side the Y lines up to.

• X: Split end/#1 receiver. Always travels opposite of the “Y” end, and is primarily on the line of scrimmage.

• Z: Flanker/#2 receiver. This player primary travels to the same side the Y is on unless the formation calls for the Z to go opposite of the Y.

• F: The “F” player is moved around a lot. In two-back formations, this is the fullback, and in one-back sets with two TE’s, this is the second TE. In formations with three wide receivers, the F becomes the 3rd receiver.

• H: “H” stands for halfback in traditional football terms, but the way modern NFL teams use this position is more of a true tailback. This is the primary/featured running back in the formation.

• Q: Quarterback.

Along with the Y being the apex player, the Z traveling with the Y, and the X going opposite, there are some primary alignments too. The X and Z always line up as widest receivers unless told to otherwise by the formation name. Likewise, the Y is always at the TE position to the call side unless told otherwise by the formation name. Another rule that is automatically involved is that the widest receivers by default line up on the bottom (outside) edge of the numbers.

This article does not cover the other names teams give sub players, such as “U” or “E” for different TE’s or receivers. That will be covered in a future article. To keep things simple, assume that in a formation, any player on a roster could play any of the lettered positions.

Formation Name Progression

Formation Type

The first word of the formation indicates the type of formation. The type also dictates to a large extent the backfield. Since I am replicating NFL-level-type formations, this article will not feature full-house, or three-back formations. The types of formations you will see are as follows:

• Two back formations: The H and F are between the tackles. X, Y, and Z are receivers. Each backfield has a unique name.

• Balanced formations: These are formations where the Y and Z are to one side, while the F and X are to the opposite side (AKA 2x2 formations). All of these formations begin with the letter “D.” D as in deuce, or double.

• Strong-balanced formations: These are 2x2 formations where the Y and F are to the call side, and the X and Z are to the opposite side. All of these formations begin with the letter “F.” F as in F to the strong side.

• Strong formations: 3x1 formations where the Y, F, and Z are to the call side, while the X is to the opposite side. All of these formations begin with the letter “T.” T as in “trips.”

• Weak formations: 3x1 formations where the Y is to the call side, and the F, X, and Z are to the opposite side. These formations begin with the letter “S.” S as in the last letter in trips.

Formation Direction

This is a simple “Right” or “Left.” Every formation gets a left or right directional call. This indicates the side the Y is do, and based on the formation type, dictates the side of the formation the other players will line up to. Example, if a balanced formation is called to the left, that means the Y and Z are to the left, and F and X are to the right. If a weak formation is called to the right, the Y is to the right, and the F, X, and Z are to the left.

Formation Adjuster

Formation adjusters come after the direction, and these make tweaks on the strong or weak side of the formation. This is where a lot of formations are reduced to bunch or tight sets, or spread out.

Tags

Tags are added to the end of a formation to move a specific player into a very specific position.

Formations by Type and Direction

Two Back Formations

To put the Z on the same side as the X in a twins alignments, simply call “slot.”

Balanced Formations

Strong Balanced Formations

Strong Formations

The order of the trips-side receivers are listed as outside - middle - inside. The F, Y and Z are to the call side.

Weak Formations

The order of the trips-side receivers are listed as outside - middle - inside. The F, X, and Z are to the weak side.

Formation Adjusters

Strong-side Formation Adjusters

Strong side adjusters will apply to the strong side of balanced formations, strong-balanced formations, and strong formations. Adding an “er” to the end of an adjuster puts the same adjustment on the weak side of the formation. Some adjusters only apply in 3x1 formations, such as “bunch, clump” and “tandem.”

Strong-side adjusters for 3x1 formations are below. Note that to change the order in which the receivers are aligned, you have to call a different formation type, like Trio, Twin, etc. Whenever “Trips” is called, the Z is always outside, F is always in the middle, and Y is always on the inside.

Weak-side Formation Adjusters

Weak-side adjusters will apply to the weak side of balanced formations, the weak side of strong-balanced formations, and the weak side of weak formations.

Weak-side adjusters from 3x1 formations. Like 3x1 strong-side adjusters, the order from outside-in the receivers align in depend on the formation type called.

Two Back Formation Adjusters

These are relatively the same adjuster calls for both the strong and weak side, but the “F” players is in the backfield and not involved in the adjuster call.

Formation Tags

Formation tags follow at the end of formations and often influence just one player.

• Yo: The Y-end takes a 5 yard split

• Yoyo: The Y-end splits out wide

• Nasty: The X, or split-end to the weak side aligns at a 5 yard split

• Nastier: Both ends take a 5 yard split

• Book: All receivers are inside the numbers, with the widest receivers being on the top (inside) edge of the numbers.

• Open: Widest receivers align halfway between the numbers and the sideline.

To exchange or swap players, call the formation, then give the word or tag that tells the two players to change spots at the end or formation, or casually tell the involved players before the call via a separate statement.

• Yax: Y and X change. X aligns in the Y spot, and Y aligns in the X spot.

• Zax: Z and X change. X aligns in the Z spot, and Z aligns in the X spot.

• Fax: F and X change. X aligns in the F spot, and F aligns in the X spot.

• Yaz: Y and Z change. Y aligns in the Z spot, and Z aligns in the Y spot.

• Fay: F and Y change. F aligns in the Y spot, and Y aligns in the F spot.

• Fez: F and Z change. F aligns in the Z spot, and Z aligns in the F spot.

• Change: F and H change. F aligns in the H spot, and H aligns in the F spot.

Shotgun and Empty Formations

• “P” puts the QB and HB in a pistol set. This will go at the very front of the formation name.

• To put the HB out wide to make empty formations, use the numbers A, B, C to put the back to the left, and 1, 2, 3 to the right, where A and 1 are the widest alignments, B and 2 are in the slot, and C and 3 are off the tackle. By default, any time the HB is put into one of these alignments, the QB is in a shotgun alignment.

• When the HB is put out in a receiver position, and the formation calls for a receiver to be in that spot, the HB takes that spot, and the receiver moves accordingly. On A and 1, the receiver moves to the inside. On B and 2, the receiver moves outside or inside according to the rest of the formation call. On C and 3, the receiver moves to the outside.

• Adding “plus” or “minus” to a formation puts the QB in a shotgun formation with the back offset to the strong side (plus) or to the weak side (minus).

Any of the above formation sections can be combined together. Just remember the order: Formation type, direction, adjuster, tag, tag 2, tag 3, etc. Below are two examples.

Conclusion

This article is very meaty, and as you can see, the formations can get very complex. You may find yourself noticing that some formation call combinations will give you formations that are essentially the same as others. This system however is structured to get all of your skill players to each area on the field. While Trips and Twin look the same on paper, they shuffle the outside-in order of the receivers, and that is how you can look for mismatches; perhaps getting a tall, big-bodied receiver like a TE to the outside on a small CB, or getting your stud WR on a linebacker. I hope you enjoyed this read! Please leave a comment below, or subscribe if you have questions, or want to make a content request!