Playbooks
Far
OffenseExample Plays from Far
Overview
Far is a 21 personnel, two back formation built on offset backfield alignment. The halfback sets up behind the tackle on the weak side (the side away from the tight end) and the fullback works as the second back in the backfield, giving the defense a split back picture that looks balanced but carries a clear weak side lean. In Far Pro, the tight end is attached inline with receivers split wide on each side. Far Tight Slot pulls a wideout into a condensed slot alignment near the formation, and Far Slot stacks both receivers to one side for a pass friendly twin look while keeping both backs in the game.
The philosophy is West Coast balance: run the ball with a lead blocker, then punish the defense for loading the box with play action, flood concepts, and backs leaking into routes. Because the halfback starts on the weak side, he can get a quick release into the flat or on an angle route against linebackers before the defense can pass him off. The fullback stays as a pass protector or a lead blocker, and he can sneak out on a delayed release when the defense ignores him.
Far creates mismatches through the backfield. Two backs force linebackers into man assignments they lose, and the weak side halfback often draws a slower Mike or Will in coverage. Against zone, the halfback in the flat plus a curl or out from the outside receiver sets up a classic high low read on the flat defender. The tight end on the strong side combined with a weak side back means the defense has to defend both edges, which opens isolation routes for the X receiver when the safety rotates down.
At a Glance
Far fits best in West Coast and power run schemes that rely on a strong fullback, a pass catching halfback, and a balanced run pass split. It also supports play action heavy and RPO influenced play callers who want to punish base defenses with leaks and flat routes from the backfield. Rosters with a versatile halfback, a reliable fullback, and a dependable tight end benefit most, especially for players who control tempo and prefer methodical drives over pure spread passing.
Strengths
- The weak side offset halfback releases quickly into angle, flat, and wheel routes, creating linebacker mismatches that beat man coverage and Cover 1 robber looks.
- The 21 personnel run game (leads, counters, and weak side zone) forces defenses into base or heavy packages, which opens play action shots against single high safeties.
- Far Slot and Far Tight Slot create two receiver side flood and smash combos while keeping a lead blocker, letting you attack Cover 3 and Cover 4 flats without leaving protection thin.
- The fullback doubles as an extra pass protector against nano blitzes, and you can hot route him to a block or quick flat depending on the pressure look you read pre snap.
- Motioning the tight end or slot receiver across the formation shifts the strength and reveals man or zone before the snap, simplifying reads on concepts like mesh and drive.
Weaknesses
- With only two or three true receivers, Far struggles against Cover 2 Man and Cover 4 drop looks where defenses can double your best wideout and still keep numbers in the box.
- The weak side halfback alignment tells opponents where the run and the check down are going, so a user controlled linebacker lurking the weak flat can jump angle routes and outlet passes.
- Overload blitzes from the weak side (especially edge plus slot pressure) can outnumber the protection when the halfback runs a route, forcing hurried throws.
- Limited spread concepts make it hard to stay in Far on 3rd and long, as defenses can sit in Dime or Quarters and dare you to beat deep zones with only two vertical threats.
- The run game loses its edge against heavy fronts with 8 in the box and a user controlled safety filling the alley, especially when your fullback lacks run block rating.
Usage Tips
Use Far on 1st and 10 and 2nd and short to establish lead runs, then call play action from the same set once the opponent starts stacking the box or bringing a safety down.
Pre snap, hot route the halfback to a wheel or angle against man coverage, and keep the fullback on a block when you see a potential nano blitz off the edge.
Motion the slot receiver in Far Slot to identify man versus zone, then audible to a flood concept against zone or a mesh or drag combo against man.
Pair RPO style reads with play action rollouts: roll the quarterback toward the halfback side so you have the flat, a corner route, and a scramble lane to stress the flat defender.
On 3rd and medium, use the fullback as a delayed flat or checkdown option, since most defenses leave him unaccounted for when they drop into zone and focus on your receivers.
