11 personnel formation on offense

I'll never pretend to really understand the Xs and Os as I'm more of a 'sit back and just enjoy the game" fan, but the 12 formation never made any sense to me regarding the run game. Having 2 TEs to help block means to me that the D has 2 extra bodies in play. That's 2 extra bodies adding to the congestion in the middle over a standard 11 set. To help the run game, it makes more sense to me to spread them out to reduce the congestion. A FB makes more sense than an extra TE as the FB will have a head of steam by the time he gets to the LOS.

 

I don't care what personnel package Napier runs, just find one that works.

 

Amen to that!

 

I thought only 11 players were allowed on the field.

 

Watching the GNFP video and analyzing a lot of plays in this formation, here are my conclusions.

1. When it’s a running play it’s almost as if we are running a wishbone offense. 5 OL, 1 QB and 3 backs all in the box vs 5 OL, 2 TE, 1 QB and 1 back. 9 players in the box the same way. In the wishbone any of the 3 backs or the QB could run it meaning you had 3 extra blockers and didn’t know which one would run. In Napier’s sets, the TEs won’t run it and last year AR was a legit threat but now you are bunching players in there and everyone knows which one will be the runner. Mertz ran twice but defenses will be ok giving up the occasional first down while focusing on the RB.

2. In passing situations you need a QB like Trask and a TE like Pitts to make those TEs legitimate receiving threats. No one like that on our team. So Napier is either forcing something onto the players they obviously cannot do and not adjusting to what the players can do.

After the GNFP video I am even more down on our offense. One of the ESPN pundits said before the Utah game “if Napier couldn’t win more than 6 games with Anthony Richardson, what makes him or anyone think he can do it with Graham Mertz?”

 

If it's a running play, have 18 players in the middle makes for increased congestion and 2 extra defenders going to the ball. It might make more sense to throw to one of 2 WRs in man defense.

 

I would love to see more 11, 10, or even 00 personnel. I really think we have some stud WR's that are capable of punishing D's that want to stack the box and play Man 2 Man, and Mertz has the ability to get them the ball too.

 

I was looking at it from the Offense’s point of view. Logic dictates an opposing defense puts 9 in the box if we show 9. But hey if they feel like dropping 7 into coverage go right ahead.

 

On the other hand, if you have legit tes and a qb that can make you pay for that extra lb, 12 makes sense. It doesn’t appear 12 helps us at this point. Georgia does quite well and turning that coverage with the extra bd into a big liability. You have to adapt to your strengths and te isn’t one for us at the moment. Wr however, we have some, go with it.

 

So he's a coach of the year candidate if he gets to 7.
got it

Didn't they say that T Martin couldn't win a NC if peytie couldn't?

 

This all makes sense to me. I'm not one of these types that thinks anything other than a pass heavy spread is some horrible antiquated offense but I do think given the strengths of our team we'd be better off with less 12 as it's not clear we have even one SEC quality TE let alone two.

 

I just plagiarized your post brother

 

I do find it funny when people think pro style offenses are antiquated. It’s just that they’re not good enough to run it is the problem.

 

Yeah, but we don't have 2 NFL TEs on our team. And since when do college teams copy NFL teams? UGA ran the 12 personnel becasue they had 2 NFL tight ends for last 3 years.

We have speedy fast receive and the more of them we get on the field at the same time the better off we will be. I say we need to go to the 10 and the 00 personnel to take full advantage of our speedy receivers. 4 and 5 receiver sets will cause massive problems for the opposing teams, and if they stack the box... we win... if they spread out we win.

If we do it correctly we should be at a huge advantage every time we run 4 and 5 receiver sets. We could quick slant deep ball... curls... streaks... skinny post and the chances that most teams will be able to cover them all of them are slim to none.

The 12 personnel is situation at best, and that formation should never be our base offensive set scheme.

11 personnel gives us 3 wide receivers.
10 personnel gives us 4 wide receivers.
00 personnel gives us 5 wide receivers.

At least HALF of our total offensive plays should be from one of these 3 sets.

 

Yep, it's what I've been saying all off season. And spread them all out.

 

Perfect example of where Billy is lacking why and needs an OC.

Putting us in 12 personnel took away the speed and athleticism advantage we had in that game. Instead of having Trey or Jackson on the field, we have Odom and a backup TE.

You can say, well that personnel gives us better blocking and allows us to run.

When you look at the tape, it had the opposite effect. Odom was terrible at blocking, and Utah countered with 8-9 in the box which gave them numbers against our front. Additionally, you had Odom catching passes instead of a speedy WR.

There were 2 back to back plays in the first quarter where we went 5 wide and 4 wide. That resulted in Utah with only 4 linemen and ended up with 2 big chunk plays.

Billy should have seen the impact of spreading Utah out and throwing to setup the pass, but instead he reverted to 12 personnel and heavy, condensed trips sets.

Square peg in round hole, and no willingness to adapt after the opposite worked!

I truly hope he uses this weekends game to run more 3 and 4 WR sets. My worst nightmare will be they come out in 12 again, bully a lesser team and then Billy says, hey look! My plan works when it's executed well! And we try the same crap against UT.

Please Billy, watch the tape and adjust. Dont fall victim to your own ego, it will be your undoing.

One more observation from the film that came from an analyst. The zone blocking was a disaster. This team isn't setup for it and was much more effective using the massive line for power sets. Hopefully that adjustment is made as well.