Playbooks
At a Glance
Overview
The Jumbo set in the Near formation is a heavy 23 personnel look that removes every wide receiver from the field in favor of three tight ends and two running backs. The fullback aligns in a near offset position next to the quarterback, and the tight ends stack the line to create a wall of blockers across the formation. Other sets in the Near formation spread at least one receiver outside to stretch the defense horizontally. Jumbo condenses everything inside the numbers, forcing the defense to match with goal line or heavy base personnel and pulling cornerbacks and nickel defenders off the field.
The short menu includes FB Dive, FB Dive Weak, and HB Inside for downhill interior runs, plus TE Hitch Out and TE Corner for quick passing answers. PA Strong Flow is the key gadget element: it sells hard run action to the strong side, then releases tight ends into flat and flow routes that attack defenders who have crashed the line of scrimmage. The play art is built to look identical at the snap, so the run and pass options share the same pre-snap picture.
The matchup advantage comes from forcing linebackers and safeties to cover tight ends in space after they commit to stopping the run. When the defense responds with goal line personnel, a tight end on a corner route often ends up isolated against a linebacker or a slow safety, and the extra blockers give the quarterback time on play action. When the defense stays lighter to respect the pass, the fullback and halfback get numbers at the point of attack between the tackles.
Strengths
- Three tight ends plus a fullback give you at least one extra blocker at the point of attack on FB Dive and HB Inside, which beats light boxes on 3rd and 1 or 4th and inches
- PA Strong Flow punishes defenders who bite on run action; linebackers crashing downhill leave the flat and flow windows open against both Cover 3 and man coverage
- TE Corner is a strong goal line man beater because a linebacker or safety matched on a tight end cannot carry the outside break toward the pylon
- TE Hitch Out gives a quick option against off zone or soft goal line coverage, taking easy yards when defenders sit on the run
- Forcing the opponent into goal line or heavy personnel removes their best cover corners from the field, which you can exploit by pairing this set with play action on the same series
Weaknesses
- The playbook depth is thin at six plays, so opponents quickly learn that the tell is almost always an interior run or a single play action concept
- There is no true vertical threat or wide receiver, so a defense can crowd the box with safeties and linebackers and dare you to throw against tight ends with limited separation
- User-controlled linebackers or safeties sitting over the A gaps can blow up FB Dive and FB Dive Weak before the blocks develop
- Edge blitzes and overloaded goal line fronts can beat the play action timing on PA Strong Flow, especially if the backside end is left unblocked
- With every eligible receiver aligned tight, defenders do not have to respect horizontal spacing, making zone drops that squeeze the flats very effective against the passing concepts
Usage Tips
Save Jumbo for short yardage and goal line situations, especially 3rd and 1, 4th and 1, and first and goal inside the 3, where heavy personnel matters most
Read the box before the snap: if the defense shows fewer defenders than your blockers, run HB Inside or FB Dive; if they load up with 8 or more and bring safeties down, audible to PA Strong Flow or TE Corner
Establish FB Dive Weak and HB Inside first so the run action on PA Strong Flow becomes believable, then call the play action when the linebackers start triggering early
Against man coverage near the goal line, look to TE Corner and consider hot routing the opposite tight end to a streak or out to clear space for the primary target
If a user defender is lurking in the middle, flip the run direction or switch to FB Dive Weak to attack away from where they are positioned
