- SB Wing Pair, Wing Tight, Wing Tight Z
Wing Pair has TE Attack and Sprint Flat, along with a stretch alert. As always, this formation has a tendency to misalign defenses. If you motion out the rb to the bunch side, you can have 4 options to attack and negate match coverages. Wing tight has PA Roll left which has a post to the outside te and drag wheel, with a deep crosser by the solo WR. Wing Tight Z has TE attack, which can be really glitchy vs. man coverage, and curl flat seam which has the iso TE on a corner which can beat man. This really all depends on how good tight ends are in MUT. If they have some nice items, this could be a decent scheme.
- Under Center Two TE sets
The deuce close and wing flex close are what you’d come to expect. Nothing spectacular about either but if you like UC two te sets, it seems ok. The new formation is SB U Off trips. The TE on the WR side is off the line. It only has 9 plays, but the one that stands out is PA boot slide. You have a corner and post going the same way, which is always one of the strongest route combos to attack zone coverage.
- Under Center 3 WR Sets
The SB bunch x nasty is almost complete. Missing a few plays, but good enough to run. The fact that you can motion the rb to the line to block or put on routes, should make this even more usable in M24. Also, the fact that the TE can now block without using motion, is huge. Tight ends were horrible at blocking last year without secure protector as they’d get ragdolled. They changed that this year so formations like this are going to be even better. The tight y off is a great formation to audible to. You have a flippable stretch and the best play is PA Bengals Leak. Put the slot wr on the left on a streak. Run it with the double WR’s to the short side and this play can crush zone and man for a one play score.
- Gun 3 WR Tight Sets
The bread and butter of this playbook. We’ll start with Tight Y off. You have choice pivot return which has a corner and the TE on a pivot route. Those pivots (inverted whip) may be really good this year. You also have PA Go Slot Cross which was insane in M22. With in- breaking routes like crossers seemingly good again, this play could be a must have. You also have flood drive and red zone scissors, which both have the iso WR on a post which attack sharper and deeper. Tight Y off Weak has corners everywhere, pivots, and a compressed deep post. It’s a quick audible from Y off and can attack every area of the field. The TE is on the line and the rb is on his opposite side so protection should be great. These two sets alone could be a scheme in and of itself. The play spot y middle has a glitchy angle route by the TE. A sneaky play is in Gun Doubles and that’s PA zone read. If you want to attack the middle of the field with in breaking routes, this is the way to do it. Could be a really nice quick hike or audible play. Doubles offset weak has the play Sail, which has a skinny post, the slot WR on a glitchy corner, the RB on a corner and TE on a whip. Again, a nice quick snap or audible play. With bunch offset, this could be one of the main formations players use. Since you can block the TE again, it provides tremendous flexibility. Flood is always tough to defend and speed dig could be really good with in breaking routes. It has multiple corner routes and of course, verticals. Unfortunately, they removed mesh post. We finally get to what we think could be one of the main meta formations this year, and that’s Tight Slots HB Weak. It was a really tough formation to defend last year, and seems even better this year. Having a post from either side is really annoying and the play flood is one of the top 5 quick snap plays in the game. It’s a great scheme to beat man or zone. You can also motion one of the double wr’s to the te side and create a bunch nasty look. You have verticals, a run game, a screen, can max pro, and even motion the rb to the te side out wide to create even more headaches. It’s definitely a formation to consider running full time.
Overall Thoughts: Tight Y off, Weak, Bunch offset and Tight Slots are excellent. They work together so well and are the absolute strength of this book. Could end up being a nice early season meta. Also, audibling down to sb bunch nasty with a quick run could be very annoying for your opponent
Grade: A
