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AFM Magazine


Expand the Field with Compressed Formations

by: Steve Heck
Wide Receivers Coach • Kutztown University
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With today’s defensive players becoming faster and more athletic, the playing field seems to almost shrink a bit each season. Yards, feet, first downs and points are harder to produce. With offenses trending toward spreading people out, another equally effective way to create space is to condense formations with minus splits. Condensed formations expand the field horizontally by manipulating defenders and maximizing the field space from the numbers to the sideline. 
   



Although one of the more common condensed formations is the three-receiver bunch set, the tight 2 x 2 set can be an effective way to out-leverage the defensive secondary. Diagrams 1A and 1B illustrates the difference between the normal 2 x 2 set and a compressed 2 x 2 formation. The first concept shown in diagram 2 is the vertical/out combination. The outside receivers (X and Z) are on the ball and align two yards from the slot receivers (A and S). Normally the outside receivers are on or near the numbers, but in the tight alignment they are well inside the numbers. The key coaching point for the X and Z is to immediately gain width on the release and run vertically for the “turkey” hole. We want an immediate vertical threat, and we must get #1 moving and avoiding a jam at the line of scrimmage. Versus a hard corner we do not want foot-fire or hand fighting. The slot receiver runs a 5-yard speed-out. It is important for the slot receiver to recognize blitzes and get his eyes and hands up for the blitz throw.   
  



  The quarterback must pick a side at pre-snap, recognize the coverage and get the ball out. The drop for the speed-out is three quick steps, while the vertical can time the pattern better with three big steps and a hitch. Versus cover 3 and quarters coverage, the QB is thinking speed-out at pre-snap, while if a cover 2, his thinking is a medium trajectory fade opportunity. Personnel match-ups will likely dictate the decision versus man coverage. The concept is to take advantage of the additional field space by stressing the perimeter immediately both vertically and horizontally.   
 

   Like many offensive systems, we use the smash concept to attack various coverages. Lately, we have found the compressed version of the smash concept to be more beneficial than the normal “wide” 2 x 2 deployment (See Diagram 3). Defenses have gotten really good at recognizing releases and reading route combos. Cornerbacks, in particular, are getting more comfortable baiting QBs into throwing the corner route, and linebackers are expanding quicker to the flat. To combat these issues, we have the number one receiver run a 6-yard fin route. He uses the same release as the fade, pushing a wide release, but at 6 yards he buzzes down and turns outside like a lazy, short comeback versus a hard corner. X and Z can work back inside away from pressure.    
 

   The rule for the slot receiver is a 10-yard corner route. At times, we will put out the slot on the ball to get him into the secondary faster. The main coaching point for the slot receiver in the smash concept is to recognize cover 2 and flatten the top end off the corner route a bit more. The compressed formation changes the leverage points for the defense and gives the quarterback a better chance to hit the corner route versus two-deep coverage. You can change the depths a bit to fit what your QB does best. The smash concept can work well as a 3-step combination or a 5-step quick combination depending on protection schemes and match-ups. Regardless of the drop, the QB must pick a side, read the cornerback, and get the ball out of his hand. Do not try to “shoe horn” the corner route. Take the fin versus a soft corner.   


    One of the main strengths of the compressed 2 x 2 formation is it allows the outside receiver to run some routes he wouldn’t normally be able to run. Diagram 4 illustrates this point with the out/option concept. Normally the slot runs the out route, but with more field space available, number 1 can now run a quick 4-yard speed-out. The receiver climbs to 4 yards as he widens, but again it is important to get outside the numbers quickly with eyes up and hands ready. Eventually, the speed-out can covert to a wheel. The slot receiver runs a 6-yard option route. The slot must push vertical for 6 yards before either turning in or making a sharp out break at 6 yards. The option route is also a built-in quick throw versus an edge blitz.   
  

  The option concept is a good scheme to isolate athletic slot receivers versus linebackers weather in man or in their zone drops. Also, it simplifies some of the QB’s decisions made by providing quick throws outside and the always reliable option route in the slot. One change-up to the option concept is to simply run number 1 vertical with an outside release (See Diagram 5).   
 



   Up to this point, all of the condensed 2 x 2 schemes have featured mirrored route combinations based around quick throws. Diagram 6 illustrates another example of the tight set allowing the number one receiver to run non-traditional routes. Normally, the slot receiver runs crossing or shallow routes in the mesh concept. In the condensed look, the X runs a shallow route working up to 6 yards as he gets to the opposite side of the field. One coaching point on the shallow route is to release vertically with one or two punch steps before re-directing across the field.  


 

    The A receiver runs a corner route pushing to 10-12 yards, giving a top-end post fake before breaking outside. The vertical release by the slot receiver forces linebackers to carry number 2, which will create space and lesser resistance for X and S. While X is working the shallow route at 6 yards, the S receiver runs the crosser at 10-12 yards. The Z runs the vertical route staying on or just outside the numbers. The outside vertical is staying on or just outside the numbers. The outside vertical by Z provides more space and freedom to the crosser to work the middle of the field and find a void in the zone, or run away from man coverage.   
  

  If the quarterback is under center, this is a 5-step drop. His primary blitz throw is the X running the shallow, but the S receiver must be aware of side pressure looks to his side. Versus cover 2, all of the routes are viable. The corner route by A and the vertical by Z allow for vertical shots in the hole, while the “get open” route by S can exploit the intermediate middle zones. The shallow route usually opens up late and essentially serves as a check down for the QB late in the progression. Versus a 3-deep scheme, the QB will work the crosser and shallow routes.   
  

  Sometimes lining up in a formation is actually easier and more effective than using motions and shifts to out-leverage your opponent. A good example of this is evident with our tight 2 x 2 cover 4 beater (See Diagram 7). Placing the outside receiver in closer to the slot allows the skinny post route to threaten the seams in cover 4. The key with this combination is forcing the safeties to honor the deep curl route by the slot receivers. With the safeties squatting on the 12-yard curl, we want the quarterback to work the post route over the top.   
 



   One of the main adjustments defenses employ versus closely aligned WRs is some type of combination coverage. Teams will “banjo” routes, meaning they will switch assignments based on the outside receiver releasing inside and the slot releasing outside. When we see a steady dose of this combo coverage, we space the number one receivers (X, Z) back to normal splits, and we widen the slots to try to force the combo technique from the defense.    
 

   Like many teams, we run the slant/flat combo. Against the combo scheme, we run misdirection routes by the slot receiver (See Diagram 8). The slot sells the flat route hard, letting the slant clean over the top. After five steps, the slot plants the up-field foot and works back inside on the bow-tie route. The combo scheme can help neutralize certain combinations, but it is vulnerable to misdirection routes like the bow-tie. Against blitz pressure, the slot receiver looks right away on the flat route.   


 

   With any formation, it is important to have multiple runs and passes to avoid being predictable.  Changing the splits of your receivers may seem like a basic concept, but it can create some real tangible benefits. Football is a game of finding leverage, creating space and exploiting match-ups. Non-traditional formations can help the offense find that extra yard. 






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