Theoretical Football

“Theoretical football is the notion that American football is an exceedingly complex sport that requires a branch of learning. Its goal is to accentuate the cerebral, academic, and quantifiable

aspects of American football.” - Denauld William Brown

Contact Twitter: @theofootball Email: theoreticalfootball@gmail.com

Defending The Best Offensive Minds

Topic: Mike Leach 1997

By Denauld William Brown

This is a continued series on how to read and defend offensive formations pre-snap. We will discuss the pre-snap formation

assessment of then offensive coordinator of the University of Kentucky Mike Leach.

We will give an in-depth look at some of the formational intent that defines this master architect.

NEXT TOPIC: Doug Nussmeier

Offensive Coordinator

University of Alabama

X

Split back formations are a

consistent topic in these

formation assessments.

Formations with split back

sets are universal in nature.

A post snap free release of

the backs gives you a feel

that the offense wants to get

all 5 eligible receivers into

the route to increase there

chances of a successful

thrown by the quarterback,

and catch by the receiver.

This particular Mike Leach

formation from 1997 hints

to the evolutionary way he

would later extend his

formations with the offensive

line at Texas Tech.

Formations have personality

and this one is no different.

The expectation of the “Y” to

motion is almost reasonable

given the proximity and

positioning of the “Y” and

“Z” in a semi-cluster. This

formation is poised in the

passing game for multiple

crossers. The roots of this

formation stem from a west

coast Bill Walsh playbook.

The flipping of the Z & Y

seems to be a variation

specific to this particular

play caller. The ultimate

question that needs to be

asked is if there are any

advantages in the running

game in this formation?

Some formations are better

than others when it comes to

the passing and running

games. The challenge of

evaluating a single formation

is knowing that each

formation is part of a

greater call sequence of

plays during an actual

football contest. We take on

this challenge to dig deeper

into the mind of the master

play callers.

Pro

Number of running backs: 2

Number of receivers: 3

Number of Tight ends: 0

Formation Type: Female

Formation demeanor: Pass

X

The Pythagorean Theorem

approach to the Mike Leach

offense is evolutionary. He

has found a way to increase

time for the quarterback by

creating distance between

the defensive line and the

quarterback. This is a very

smart way of buying time

rather than adding

protection. Offensive passing

schemes are time savers

while the defensive line is

poised to moderate that time

by controlling and

penetrating the pocket from

outside in. With a free

release of the running back

in the passing game this 2x2

formation can present

maximum stress to a defense

when pressure on the

quarterback is of no

consequence. There needs to

be an innovative way to

consistently defeat the

offense play by play

schematically. This is a

challenge that Bill Walsh

presented in his 1958

graduate school thesis.

“Defensive knowledge of the

coach becomes quite obvious

when his team takes the field

against an opponent that

employs a flank (spread) type

formation. His charges will be

at a definite tactical

disadvantage if not

completely prepared. Only

with superior man power will

they have a fighting chance.”

Mike Leach is a master play

caller. It seems his influence is

drawn from the likes of

Mouse Davis, Bill Walsh and

obviously Hal Mumme. But he

put his own remarkable spin

on such a simple looking

formation.

Pro

Number of running backs: 1

Number of receivers: 4

Number of Tight ends: 0

Formation Type: Female

Formation demeanor: Pass