Defending the Best Offensive Minds - Alabama Offensive Coordinator Doug Nussmeier

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: Doug Nussmeier

By Denauld William Brown

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

University of Alabama offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. This is a review of the first offensive series by Alabama in the BCS

National Championship game vs. Notre Dame

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

NEXT TOPIC: Noel Mazzone

Offensive Coordinator

UCLA

2/18/2013

X

Balanced formations can be

used in any situation. This

particular formation tells you

three distinct things about

what Alabama’s game plan

vs. Notre Dame was going to

be. The first thing is that they

are going to run the football

a lot. Secondly, they are

setting up a play action

game down the road. Lastly,

an undeclared “MO”, or #3

in the backfield always

keeps a defense on its heels

prior to the snap. It is my

opinion that this double TE

set is the most dangerous set

in football today. Its simple

in nature, powerful in

expectation, and multiple in

its own right. As part of a

greater call sequence,

starting the game off in this

formation is superb. There

are so many schemes that

you can run out of this

formation. Too many to

discuss here but the question

that needs to be asked is

why is this set really so

dangerous? It first places all

defenders at the point of

attack. The depth of the

running back tells you that he

has a wide range of holes to

pick from given the vision

and ability of the back. TE’s

are necessary in order to run

the ball effectively. Two TE’s

adds more weight to the

formation and gives it that

zing. In 2006 The

Indianapolis Colts made a

living in the formation that

took them all the way to the

Super Bowl to eventually

win. This is a formation that is

poised to for run and play

action. It is a no-nonsense

formation that caters to its

own defense in the grand

scheme of things. Alabama is

known for defense because

of using formations like this

by its own offense.

Pro

Number of running backs: 1

Number of receivers: 2

Number of Tight ends: 2

Formation Type: Male

Formation demeanor: Run

1

X

During the national

championship game you

heard Kirk Herbstreit talk

about Alabama’s “balanced

attack.” That balanced

attack is directly related to

the formation selection

rather than play calls. For

example a run to pass ratio

can be skewed the entire

game as long as the offense

makes up the difference by

the end of the game.

Offenses like to stay at or

around a 50/50 run to pass.

A balanced formational

attack needs to be

immediate. For example this

particular formation is 3 by

1 in nature, condensed in a

bunch cluster, and uses an

unusual personnel group for

such an offensive set. The

question that needs to be

asked is how does the

particular formation contrast

from the previous balanced

2x2, double TE set? Simply

put everything is opposite.

For example the direct

contrast to 2x2 is 3x1. The

direct contrast to 12

personnel is 21 personnel.

The ball was run to the

offensive left now its being

passed to the offensive right.

This is not to over simply the

process but quite the

contrary. This is a call

sequencing that was very

successful in this game vs.

Notre Dame and justifies the

“balanced attack” the Kirk

Herbstreit was taking about.

The more categories an

offense stays balanced in

the more of an illusion they

present and it all starts with

the formations the offense

employ's.

Pro




Formation Type: Female

Formation demeanor: Pass

2

X

Unbalanced formations have

obvious limitations in the

passing game by rule but

are limitless in the running

game. In other words the

offense is basically telling

you that they are going to

run the ball to the offensive

left. There are 4 offensive

players on one side however

you should only consider this

a 3x1formation and not a

“quads” formation. Prior to

the snap of the ball the

quarterback and running

back shifted to this pistol set

you see in the diagram.

Likely, it was some sort of

“dummy” audible. This set is

too well-defined in nature

for the shift to be of any

consequence to the outcome

of the play. A most

interesting question to ask is

why go unbalanced here on

the 3rd play of the game?

The illusion of this

3x1formation can often

catch an ill prepared

defense off guard. Not

recognizing the unbalanced

nature of the formation can

create defensibility issues.

Secondly this formation is a

direct contrast from the

previous 3x1 formation on

the offensive left hash, to this

now 3x1, unbalanced

formation on the offensive

right hash. Doug Nussmeier’s

formation selection is really

good and is the real reason

why Alabama dominated

this game on offense. The

next three formations will

give a great indication of

the type of balance

Alabama is trying to

achieve. It is the kind of

balance that it very hard to

identify with the naked eye.

It needs to be peeled back,

dissected, and studied to

really discover the genius of

Doug Nussmeier’s play

calling.

Pro Unbalanced






3

X

Play #4 of this series was a

dead ball penalty play so

Let us recap the previous 3

formations.

Play Form Per Hash R or P

1 2x2 12 Mof R

2 3x1 21 Left P

3 3x1 11 Right R

4 2x2 12 Mof

Good play callers can get

the ball where then want to

on the field. By controlling

the formations you control a

defense. By controlling the

defense you can place a

premium on ball placement,

being on the hash or in the

middle of the field. This play

never occurred because of

the penalty however it still

falls in line with the balanced

approach that Kirk Herbstreit was talking about.

Pro






4

X

Taking a quick snap shot of a formation pre-snap is always important when evaluating

them as part of a total call sequence of plays. An offense can always do anything that

they want to do regardless of logic. So recognizing a formations limitations is extremely

important. 3x1 formations have what 3-4 defensive people call “limited run weak.”

While watching the game, what really stands about this first series of formations is

Doug Nussmeier’s use of 21 personnel in the 3x1 formations. Likely his use of this

personnel group is part of a bigger picture of his over all game plan. “Winged” sets

always force defenses to adjust or possibly even check their coverage concept? This

particular “winged” formation is poised for motion. A defense has to be aware of this

going forward with an almost suspense like zeal. This formation makes sense given the

previous 2x2 formation used on the prior offensive play. A great balanced attack by

Alabama during this first series

Pro




Formation Type: Female

Formation demeanor: Pass

5

X

This was the last formation used as part of

a 6 formations and 5 play drive. The

question that needs to be asked is if you as

the defending coach would consider this a

2x2 formation, or 2 x1given the backfield

set? In other words if two backs are in the

back field, does the offset by the full back

create 2x2. Many defensive coaches may

disagree but it does create 2x2. It really is

all about “MO.” As mentioned in an over all

series or formation defensibility discussions,

“MO” is the “Middle” “Of” the 5 offensive

eligible players. Any type of offset by an

offensive back indicates a declaration.

Sure, the back is still in the backfield,

however his width is what really determines

his trustworthiness in either the running or

passing games. 2 backs set that are

declared like this have very high tendencies

in the college football game. This is really

more of a discussion about the college hash

marks and how they really effect the

schematic design of an offense. But notice

how the two extended slot receivers are

flipped. Meaning that the “Z” or #2

receiver is on the the line of scrimmage and

the “X” or #1 receiver is off the line of

scrimmage. This balances the offset by the

Fullback and reinstates multiplicity back in

to the formation. This is a very purposeful

formation being used as part of a greater

call sequence of plays. This formation

resulted in a touchdown and was part of a

greater series of formations a plays. Doug

Nussmeier is a really good play caller and

a master formation architect.

Pro Slot






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Defending the Best Offensive Minds - Alabama Offensive Coordinator Doug Nussmeier