Playbooks
Near
OffenseExample Plays from Near
Overview
The Near formation is an under center, two back look built on 21 and 23 personnel, with the fullback offset toward the tight end side (the "near" side) and the halfback aligned at depth behind the quarterback. That offset puts a lead blocker directly in front of the strength of the formation before the snap. It gives you a downhill power run identity without showing the balanced I look that defenses key on. Across Y Left Slot, Jumbo, Close, Pro, and Close Flex, the backfield stays constant while the perimeter changes. The defense sees the same run threat every snap, but the passing strength and the receiver splits shift from set to set.
Pre-snap, the offset fullback creates an extra gap to the strong side, which forces the defense to commit a linebacker or rotate a safety down to keep numbers in the box. Pro and Close keep the Y inline with traditional WR splits, so outside zone, counter, and iso stay clean. Close and Close Flex condense the receivers near the core of the formation to set up crack blocks, rub routes, and switch releases against man coverage. Y Left Slot flexes the tight end into the slot, so you can find out quickly whether the defense covers him with a linebacker, a safety, or a nickel. Each answer tells you whether to run or throw. Jumbo brings in three tight ends for short yardage and goal line, where the offset fullback acts as a hammer at the point of attack.
The philosophy is simple: run the ball to earn single high safety looks, then punish that eighth defender in the box with play-action. With 49 plays in the formation, you get enough depth to pair every core run with a matching boot, flood, or deep shot. The fullback flat, the tight end drag, and the backside post exploit defenders who flow hard to the run strength.
At a Glance
Near fits best in power run and West Coast play-action systems that want to win with physical downhill running and then take shots off the same backfield action, similar to Shanahan-style outside zone and boot structures. It rewards rosters with a strong fullback, a high run block offensive line, a mismatch tight end, and a quarterback who throws accurately on the move. Patient play-callers who like to set up the pass with the run and read defensive alignment pre-snap will get the most value from its 49 plays.
Strengths
- The offset fullback gives you an immediate lead blocker to the strong side, which makes power, iso, and outside zone hit faster and forces defenses to spend an extra defender in the box to stop them.
- Play-action from this look is elite because run and pass share identical backfield action, so bootlegs and rollouts off the offset action pull linebackers and flat defenders out of position for flood and deep crosser concepts.
- Close and Close Flex condense receivers near the tackle, which creates natural rubs, stack releases, and crack angles that beat press man and Cover 1 without needing heavy hot route adjustments.
- Y Left Slot isolates the tight end on a linebacker or safety, so a quick streak, seam, or out breaking hot route on a mismatch TE becomes a reliable man beater.
- Jumbo 23 personnel dominates short yardage and goal line, with extra run fits and a heavy edge that make QB sneaks, dives, and TE leak play-action tough to defend.
Weaknesses
- Offensive tendencies can be predictable: savvy opponents key the fullback offset and set their run commit or pinch the defensive line toward the strength of the formation before the snap.
- With only one or two true receivers on the field, you often have limited vertical threats, so Cover 4 and Cover 2 Man shells can blanket routes while the defense still plays the run with safeties.
- Under center dropbacks are slower to develop, which makes you vulnerable to edge nano blitzes and overloaded pressure off the weak side, where the fullback cannot pick up in time.
- A user controlled linebacker or safety lurking over the middle can wall off the crossers and seams that the play-action game depends on, taking away the formation's main shot plays.
- Jumbo and heavy Pro looks tell the defense to go goal line, and against a heavy front with man coverage the lack of spacing makes it hard to find an easy completion if the run is stuffed.
Usage Tips
Establish the strong side run early with power and outside zone, then call the matching play-action boot from the same set once the opponent starts committing a linebacker or safety to the fullback side.
In Y Left Slot, check the tight end matchup before the snap: if a linebacker covers him, hot route a streak or slant; if a safety rolls down, audible to a run away from that safety.
Use Close Flex on 3rd and short against man coverage, since the condensed splits create rubs; pair a flat route with a whip or a quick out to beat press and blitz.
When you see an edge nano or overloaded front, hot route the fullback or halfback to block, or slide protection toward the pressure, before you run any deeper play-action concept.
Save Jumbo for goal line and 4th and 1, but mix in a TE leak or FB flat play-action there so the defense cannot sell out completely against the dive and sneak.
