A-11 Offense

[J.Kim]

I thought this was an interesting little piece of how a limited high school team was able to use loopholes in the rulebooks to create a chaotic and seemingly random offense.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/sport ... ref=slogin

Some sample plays here from www.a11offense.com







Don't think it would ever see the light of day in the NFL though. (Stricter rules and also because I would imagine since the field dimensions are limited, and NFL players are that much faster, A Nickel or Dime formation in zone coverage would be able to handle it easily)

[NoSkyy]

The rule that allows this is exist only in High School.

"The A-11 concept is made possible by the high school rule written for a scrimmage-kick formation. The rule allows for all 11 offensive players to wear eligible receiver numbers (1-49 and 80-99), as long as one player lines up at least 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage and there is no player under center."

So, I doubt it'll ever emerge in the NFL. I think it's kind of neat, if you get a good running QB, I doubt anyone can really guard this formation properly. On the other hand, I guess if you have some good D-linemen. but there's really too much space.

[Icness]

At first glance the plays look like Mike Martz's wettest dream. If those wideouts can block well that's a nightmare to defend.

I would be interested to see how creative a defense you could devise in response. Maybe 1 NT and about 6 LBs? Perhaps your fastest DB as a spy lined up at MLB?

[Basketball Jesus]

I would be interested to see how creative a defense you could devise in response. Maybe 1 NT and about 6 LBs? Perhaps your fastest DB as a spy lined up at MLB?

I’d run a columns defense* and put four defenders in the far hashmark, four in the center of the field, and three in the near hashmark. Have four in a very wide box:: hybrid ends split wide in the “outside” columns, a speedy MLB five yards off center in the “inside” column with a Rodney Harrison-style safety playing right over the MLB. Have your two best cover corners in the far hashmark playing a soft man-cover zone, one underneath and one deep. Have a coverage LB spy the backfield and shift accordingly. Play your cover safety and a nickel back in the “inside” column with the nickel picking up the slot receiver and the cover corner playing deep for post routes and corner routes. In the near hash, play a crashing LB and a DB. Have the DB cover any deep outs while the LB stays near the line to cover any screens or options.

The only downside to this is if the offense calls a Hail Mary; having LBs cover that far downfield is never optimal. But you’d also be gambling that your two rushing ends get to the QB before the receivers can separate.




* I don’t know if that’s what it’s really called