Playbooks
23
7 Sets6 Formations
Overview
23 personnel puts 2 running backs and 3 tight ends on the field with zero true wide receivers, creating the heaviest legal grouping outside of adding an extra offensive lineman. This is a downhill, gap-scheme identity built for goal line, short yardage, and clock-killing drives, with formations like Near Jumbo, Strong I Jumbo, and Goal Line Normal stacking bodies at the point of attack. Defenses almost always answer with base 4-3, 3-4, or Goal Line personnel, pulling nickel and dime corners off the field and leaving linebackers and safeties responsible for tight ends in man coverage, which is exactly the matchup you want when you flip to Shotgun Double Wing or Pistol Ace Double Wing and start hot routing seams.
Strengths
- Forces heavy defensive personnel onto the field, so when you break out Shotgun Double Wing or Ace Double Wing your tight ends are running seams and corners against linebackers with poor man coverage and zone drop ratings.
- Elite run blocking versatility: three tight ends give you built-in double teams, kick out blocks, and lead blocks without motioning anyone, and the second back can lead block or fake dive on play action.
- Play action out of Strong I Jumbo and Near Jumbo is devastating because opponents commit safeties down into the box and press their linebackers up, opening the middle of the field on drag and seam combos.
- Goal line and short yardage efficiency is unmatched, with QB sneaks, dive concepts, and fade or corner hot routes to your best tight end against undersized man defenders.
- Pre-snap you can motion tight ends to create unbalanced lines and overload one side, which routinely triggers bad defensive shifts and leaves an unblocked gap you can attack with a stretch or off tackle run.
Weaknesses
- Route versatility is limited: with no true wide receivers you lose the deep speed threats needed to stretch the field vertically, so cover 2 and cover 4 shells sit on your intermediate routes without fear.
- Speed mismatches work against you when a defense keeps nickel or big nickel on the field and covers your tight ends with faster safeties, turning every route into a contested catch.
- Play calling is highly predictable, and experienced opponents will slide their defensive line, commit an extra defender to the box, and user a linebacker over the middle knowing you cannot punish them outside the numbers.
- Passing situations are rough behind poor route running and release ratings on tight ends, especially against press man where your receivers get stuck at the line and your QB has no quick outlet.
- Interior nano blitzes and A gap pressure are difficult to pick up when your extra blockers align on the edge, and you have no motion adjustments that create a legitimate quick throw to beat the free rusher.
