Defending the Best Offensive Minds - Topic Dana Holgorsen Head Football Coach West Virginia

Theoretical Football

“Theoretical football is the notion that American football is an exceedingly complex sport that requires a branch of learning. Its goal is to accentuate the cerebral, academic, and quantifiable

aspects of American football.” - Denauld William Brown

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Defending The Best Offensive Minds

Topic: Dana Holgorsen

By Denauld William Brown

This is a continued series on how to read and defend offensive formations pre-snap. We will discus the pre-snap formation

assessment of West Virginia’s Head Football Coach and offensive architect Dana Holgorsen.

We will give an in-depth look at some of the formational intent that defines this master architect.

NEXT TOPIC: Mike Leach

Head Football Coach

Washington State University

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Reading and understanding

formations pre-snap is all

about eliminating scenarios

rather than guessing

tendencies. The first question

you need to ask when

defending this formation is

what is the offense NOT

going to do? Is the formation

balanced or unbalanced

should be the second

question? Notice this slot

formation with the

quarterback under center.

Balanced sets always lend

for equals distribution of the

offensive eligible players

once the ball is snapped in

both the running and passing

games. Balanced formations

are always great play

action sets because the

running back in this case is

behind the center. The

running back who happens

to be #3 or MO, as we call

him, is in the “Middle” “Of”

the 5 offensive eligible

players. He sets the tone of

the formation. The

quarterback under center

always gives you a strong

play action expectation. This

is a great set and it tells you

how savvy of a play caller

Dana Holgorsen is. Slot sets

are great foundational

formations for a collective

sequence of calls. Most 2

back sets that divide the

backs like this usually have

strong tendencies, especially

when placed in the middle of

the field. However adding

the slot element with this

back field set reinstates its

multiplicity.

Pro Slot

Number of running backs: 2

Number of receivers: 2

Number of Tight ends: 1

Formation Type: Male

Formation demeanor: Run

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Pistol sets are a relatively new

phenomena in the college football

landscape. They add an

interesting dynamic to the

relationship between the

quarterback and running back.

The question that should be asked

is if the running back being in the

pistol really effects the other

offensive eligible players and the

answer is absolutely yes! Running

the ball without a TE is a challenge

for an offense. A challenge that

needs to be met with ingenuity.

One way to negate the effects of

not having a TE is by placing the

running back deep in the back

field to create natural cut back

lanes. Trips sets like this one have

duel personalities depending on

where the offense is located on the

field? This set is on the hash so the

width of the “Z” or #1 to the trips

side needs to be gauged as a

threat or not in the passing game

first? Once that is established

defending this formation can

become less stressful knowing who

will likely be the targeted ball

carrier once the ball is snapped.

Pro Trips

Number of running backs:1

Number of receivers:4

Number of Tight ends: 0

Formation Type: Female

Formation demeanor: Pass

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Split back sets are always difficult to deal with as a defender. Split

back sets are a great alternative if you do not have, or like to use a

blocking TE. As you can see the motion of the running back should

immediately put the defense on high alert! Not only has a true trips

formation been created pre-snap, but you also have a semi-quads

look with the “F” also being offset to the newly created trips side. The

depth of the running back in motion gives an outlet option for the

quarterback if all else fails in the passing game. A good question to

ask is if the this formation will still be a good running formation after

the motion?

Pro

Number of running backs: 2

Number of receivers: 3

Number of Tight ends: 0

Formation Type: Female

Formation demeanor: Pass

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This is a very interesting formation.

This formation likely has several

“bread & butter” plays that will

be used out of it. What

immediately grabs your attention

is the pistol back along with the

offset fullback. This creates a

“triangle” effect when you include

the quarterback into this discussion.

Misdirection immediately comes

into mind in this particular

formation. The fullback is

considered “MO” or number #3 in

this case. His proximity to the

quarterback should create an

expectation that he will cross the

formation once the ball is

snapped. This expectation is

confirmed by the running back

being in the pistol position and the

reality that the formation is into

the boundary. The running back

has the ability to become the

“new” #3 immediately after the

ball is snapped. This is a true

indicator of the great multiplicity

that Dana Holgorsen has designed

in this offensive formation.

Pro

Number of running backs: 2

Number of receivers: 3

Number of Tight ends: 0

Formation Type: Female

Formation demeanor: Pass

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Inverted sets are great to talk about because it takes you to the

formation that it was originally inverted from. In this case the

wishbone. Every defensive football coach in America should have the

privilege to defend against a wishbone formation at least one time in

their career to appreciate the beauty of this once common formation.

Like other formations that were previously discussed, whenever you

have an undeclared “MO” or #3 you will have defensibility issues.

Meaning that the formation is harder to defend because “MO” is

undeclared.

Pro

Number of running backs: 3

Number of receivers: 2

Number of Tight ends: 0

Formation Type: Male

Formation demeanor: Run