How to Be Unpredictable

and Disguise Formations

I t’s a privilege for our offensive staff to
speak before the members of the AFCA.
Today we will discuss how we use multiple
Diagram 1B: Split Lou

by Using Multiple personnel groups to disguise formations. We

have the ability to use many different forma-
Personnel Groups tions with the same offensive people on the
field. This is possible by having certain play-
ers learn two positions. Our offensive staff
these past three years — Stan Hixon, Doug
Ralph Friedgen Marrone, Bill O’Brien and Eddie Wilson —
have done an outstanding job of teaching our
Diagram 2A: Deuce Right
Offensive players their assignments, techniques and
Coordinator responsibilities in order to give us this flexibil-
ity in our offense. I will show you the organi-
Georgia Institute zation and implementation of this system and
of Technology Bill O’Brien and Eddie Wilson will talk about
how they teach these young players multiple
Atlanta, Ga. positions and how we practice it.
At Georgia Tech we use multiple forma-
tions, shifting and motions with a variety of
personnel groups, it is very hard for the Diagram 2B: Deuce Lou
defense to predict what formation we will be
in prior to breaking the huddle. We divide our
personnel into three packages and organize
this by the number of wide receivers in the
game. Each eligible receiver has a name or
Bill O’Brien an identity — X, Y, Z, R and H — are used in
each of our formations. Prior to the huddle
Runningbacks call, the skill players must know what position
Coach they are playing. This allows them to know
where to align in each formation. The players
Diagram 3A: Full 89
know to shift or motion because each position
has its own set of movements. By knowing
who they are before the huddle call allows
them to know where to align and to move. We
may have the same players on the field but
playing different positions because of the
name of the personnel group.
Eddie Wilson Our two wide receiver package consists
of these personnel groups:
Tight Ends Coach Diagram 1A: Right Diagram 3B: Bone Rock

1. Regular: Two wide receivers, two
backs, one tight end (Diagrams 1A-1B).
2. Ace: Two wide receivers, one back,
two tight ends (Diagrams 2A-2B).
3. Full-89: One wide receiver, three
backs, one tight end (Diagrams 3A-3B).
In Regular and Ace personnel groups, the
player that must learn two positions is the “H”
position, this is our fullback or second tight
end. Having a fullback that has this versatility
enables you to disguise whether you are in a
two-back or one-back formation. The Full-89
personnel group requires you to have a wide
receiver that can play in the backfield. Having
both a fullback that can play tight end and a
wide receiver that can play runningback allows
you to be in one-back, two-back or three-back
formations with the same players on the field.

• Proceedings • 77th AFCA Convention • 2000 •

 Our three wide receiver packages con-
sist of these personnel groups
1. Queens: Three WR, two backs
(Diagram 4).
2. Posse: Three WR, one back, one
tight end (Diagrams 5A-5B).
3. Full: Two WR, three backs (Diagram 6).
The three wide receiver package might be
Diagram 4: Razar
Diagram 5A: Double Left
Diagram 5B: Train Right
Diagram 6A: Bone Right
Diagram 6B: Bone Rock
• Proceedings • 77th AFCA Convention • 2000 •
our most versatile because we can run with
both option and power out of Queens and Full
and still throw the ball out of our Posse for-
mations. We use a lot of audible with this
package. To run this package, you must have
a fullback/tight end player and a wide receiv-
er/runningback player. Two years ago we had
these two types of players plus our running-
back could also play fullback. This allowed us
to align in any formation we had with the
same players on the field.
Our four wide receiver package consists
of these personnel groups.
1. Jacks: Four wide receivers, one back
(Diagrams 7A-7B).
2. Queens 3: Four wide receivers, one
fullback (Diagrams 8A-8B).
The four wide receiver package works very
well with our option and passing attacks. The
Diagram 7A: Spread Right
Diagram 7B: Dog Right
Diagram 8A: Razar
Diagram 8B:
ability to run and throw out of all these forma-
tions creates a lot of problems defensively.
Bill O’Brien will talk about how we teach
and practice our WR/RB and RB/FB positions.
Bill O’Brien, Runningbacks
Learning the WR/RB Position
A. Wide receiver is the main position,
learn that position first.
B. Slot receiver works best passing
game almost the same from Queens,
Posse and Jacks.
C. Routes from the backfield usually
have free release. If he has the ability to
protect may involve in protection.
D. Running game limited each week to
four or five plays.
E. Tremendous carryover in option
game in all formations.
Practice
A. Works with wide receivers.
B. Work on option drill a minimum of five
minutes daily.
C. Inside Run Period last four to five
plays our WR/RB plays.
D. Team will mix in repetitions.
Learning the RB/FB Position
A. Only teach one or two players both
positions running back main position.
B. Must be interchangeable with RB.
C. Protection and routes the same.
D. Play polish and foot work different.
Practice
A. Work RB at FB when FB/TE is work-
ing with TEs.
B. Kicking period work as FB.
C. Team period mix in to get reps at FB.
Eddie Wilson, Tight Ends
Learning the FB/TE Position
A. Must first learn fullback position
B. Tremendous carry over for assign-
ments in Regular and Ace.
C. Passing game protections must learn
both one and two back protections.
D. Routes must learn to run from the
backfield and from the line of scrimmage.
E. Releases from the backfield and the
line of scrimmage.
Practice
A. Must practice run and pass blocking
on the line with tight ends.
B. Inside Run Period mix personnel groups
that work on run blocks from both positions.
C. Posse TE gets reps in passing game.