Formation Recognition

In my offseason I am working hard on formation recognition. Simply put it is the good habit of knowing all of my formations and training myself to counter changes in the formation of the defense.

A good companion to the graphic below is the idea that the more depth you have on your team the better. There is no substitute for substitutions. Have multiple TEs, RBs, WRs, and OLs. Over time you develop package sets based on where you want to run.

On my 08 49ers team, I have 6 backs, and 3 tight ends. Only three of those backs are going to carry the ball so the others are for special teams, designated blocking, and sustitution if the 1st team ain't getting it done, i.e, crooked base, players running weird on your neighbors board, etc.

Depth is important on defense too as you must have an alternative player to put in the ball game if one player is consistently being beaten. In MPFL i've lost games by not having a 2nd or 3rd team depth chart available for the game. I now take the building of team very seriously.

As Bill Walsh used to say "I need everyone ready for the ball game because everybody plays." "you never know when your opportunity will come so be fresh."