HD Formation Playmaker's Dream, Camera Man's Nightmare

Does this formation have a name, or is it something our offensive coaches developed? If Galen and Jay developed it I will be truly impressed, it could be called the original spread HD package. I appreciate the time that went into figuring this out.

Thinking “Spread HD” was Jay’s term for sex. Thanks a lot, Kevin.

work on putting this together.

Who would have thought, Jay Pa is the next Steve Spurrier.

This is fantastic analysis… thanks for putting this together. Unbelieveable that this is only out of one formation. I feel bad for the rest of the coaching staffs in the Big Ten that have to analyze 5 options from one single formation. And to think, we probably haven’t even showed more than a third of the playbook.

3 guys off the line of scrimmage and behind the quarterback. . . sounds like a GLORIFIED WISHBONE!!!!! Isn’t this just a variation of a “bunch package” that everyone else uses? Still, nice little wrinkle.

In completely unrelated news, check out this ESPN link. . .
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3604999
Keywords associated: OTL, losing touch, questionable recruiting

"the coaching staff may have finally figured out a way to get Williams the ball without the terrible telegraphing we’ve grown oh so accustomed "

I’m hoping you’re right about this. It has seemed like too many times that the they’re-obviously-giving-the-ball-to-Williams mentality (and substitute the name “Robinson” back in the days when Zack Mills was taking the snaps) has been anything but a weapon.

When those plays don’t develop into anything, DWill seems to get frustrated that HE didn’t make the play. My concern there is that the frustration builds and sometime in a big game putting that extra pressure on himself is going to result in a costly turnover or an injury. Better to put some more plays in there where they can either mask that he’s going to be the receiver/ball carrier, or even better, design the previously “telegraphed” plays to make Williams a decoy. He threw a nice pass in the Blue-White game on an option. This team also has the O-line and speed to conceivably pull off the double-reverse. BTW the snap just as the “in motion” Williams reaches the center is not only a play that sometimes gets a good gain, it’s another one that could be a good decoy play. Run it early then throw the same formation/motion into a play that includes a fake to Williams for a Royster draw or pass.

I am surprised how far in the backfield the RB is lined up. 6+ yards off the LOS.

I’m wondering if the other 2/3 of hte playbook is what PSU ran last year?

We have not seen much (if any) of the read option plays that they are going to run with Clark. They did some against Oregon State, but other than that they have really held it back. Which is good for no other reason than it saves hits on Clark.

Also unrelated, at the Tuesday press confrence, Paterno said that Devon Still could be back, and that Still said he thinks he can be back for the Michigan game.

where this came from. At least I hope so. You’ve got to think that the coaching staff made a point to keep things off the table until this weekend, and that there’s a fair amount of stuff they’re haven’t even introduced to the players yet.

but that full back looks out of position…I like the options it gives, especially with the tight ends psu has because of the downfield threat they pose…

My word, Kevin, this is good stuff. You all can give us all the disclaimers you want, but this place is indeed a credible news source and you just proved you are a fully capable x’s and o’s guy! I love the film breakdown. It’s a great direction to be headed in, as the fans (however casual or diehard we’re characterized by the traditional media writers) are growing more and more knowledgeable every day.

And all the comments here are right, too, about the withholding of plays so far. Tressel taught JoePa and staff the importance of this very brutally last year. Remember all our player comments about how they didn’t see anything they practiced against? It’s such an important part of today’s game, what with film breakdown (coaching-quality like the one above!) being an every-week part of game preparation: being able to implement a gameplan that is not already part of the Public Video Record. I gotta think it’s ridiculously harder to pull off in the college game than in the pros (did you all see any highlights of what the Dolphins did to the Pats Sunday?; I guarantee even the freakin Pats—kings of innovation and versatility the past few years—never thought they’d see some of those formations). But I’m lovin that JoePa and krew seem to be pulling this off a bit. The cool question now is, how much to unveil and against whom.

For my money, I think they’ll open a few new ones this Sat night, but will find that most of their core stuff will be more than enough to open some whoopass on this year’s zookers. I can’t freakin wait for this weekend.

they are throwing the slant route again.

A great look at some different options out of this formation. Here are a few other “nuts and bolts” things to look at. A defense is always looking for “keys” at the snap to determine what play could be coming. For example, some (more traditional) offenses send the fullback in front of the ball on rushing plays almost every single time. That’s the easiest key. Sometimes an offensive guard will be the key, and linebackers are to run toward the guard to read the flow of a play and get near the ball. Usually, the key depends on what personnel the offense has in there and what formation they’re running.

As far as I can tell from the video clips here, there is really no key to give anything away with this formation. When Green took the ball through the right side, the fullback went to the left and cleared the end as if Williams was getting the ball. There didn’t appear to be any pulling guards on any of the plays, either. This is encouraging because it really cuts down on the defense’s ability to process the play quickly. This also speaks to the offensive line’s ability to clear a hole for Green without the extra safety net of a pulling guard or a leading fullback.

I’m liking what I see here!

That analysis was second to none. I’ve never been an X’s and O’s guy either but I will be keeping an eye on that formation.

Another formation I wouldn’t mind seeing is a shotgun 2 RB, 3 WR fomation with Royster and Green on either side of Clark. It doesn’t open as many options up as this formation but I could definitely see some sweeps for Green, between the tackle for Royster, PA options with Green or Royster with Norwood/Butler deep balls and Williams drag routes pass plays. You could even bring in Brackett for quick fade in the corner of the end zone.

That was really one of the most enjoyable reads of the year. Please sir, may I have some more?

On a more serious side, I really want to see them run a true option out of the split-backs set. My personal perference is to see either royster/green or green/dwill on either side of clark, and have them run a zone read inside option. Either run the zone read and let green sweep to the outside, or fake the handoff and run the option with royster/derrick williams, or fake both options and throw. I think that could have tremendous big play potential. But that’s my video game side coming out.

this too, is my first post after lurking on this site for quite some time. agreed, great analysis, but don’t get too carried away here. teams have been doing this for years. Boise in ‘06, Tim Tebow’s Gators, west virginia (now michigan), missouri and pretty much every HIGH SCHOOL team in Texas. penn state is running it effectively because they have the right tools to do so.

Glad to hear some of you enjoyed this, I’ve been trying to figure out how to get some video in and I think this works. We’ll continue, and thanks to those of you who added some information on reads and such…it’s all deadly.

I do hope they save some of the good stuff, though. It’s going to take everything the team’s got to beat Ohio State in Columbus and a win there could go a long way.

this is the difference between the regular spread and the spread HD? After watching Auburn play, I was convinced that the spread only included two running plays – student body left and student body right. They need to watch Penn State tapes if they really want to learn how to play the spread!!! Never thought I’d actually say that :o)

Thanks, Kevin! I like the videos. GO STATE!!!!!!

FIrst of all great post!!! Man am I pumped for this year!!!! I think McQuery had a hand in this deal. I know his head is on fire, but I think he’s done a great job, and now that Joe’s in the Press box, there’s no telling what we’ll see next . . .

I dont know if I could ever be convinced that Jay knows what he is doing. He’s just waisted to much talent, and Galen will always be his fall guy. If the play works, he gets the credit, if it doesnt, Galen gets blamed. Its a win – win for Jay.

Dude, great effort and some real break down that helps us see what the heck the HD can do!! Superb

Not only a good job by making everything easy to understand, it gives us intermediate level football fanatics something to look for in future games.

There are a lot of lurkers hanging around this blog!

Great post. I’m not at all an Xs andOs football fan, but I watched the videos a few times and saw exactly what you were explaining. Thanks.

something from the NFL of 2005 (reverse action to freeze the backers as the line angle seals for the HB lead draw)