Matrix Games Forums

I'm having fun with the game so these are minor nits...

1. Not sure if it was too complicated from a defensive AI perspective but I was wondering why you cannot create unbalanced formations like single wing and polecat teams run (which is perfectly legal at all levels of US football)?
for example
ETCGGTE (true single wing)
or
ETGGT C E (lonesone polecat)
or
ET GCG TE (80s BYU)

2. I was curious on how to set the qb logic so that he just takes off and runs full speed once he receives the snap (rather than plodding along looking for a receiver? (Ie have a "run to" option for the qbs commands).

3. I'd like to adjust the line splits on the OL to cut off penetration and build double and single wing offenses. Is this possible?

Again, I'm having fun with the game so I know I'm expecting way to much. I was just curious.



TJG

ORIGINAL: TJG

I'm having fun with the game so these are minor nits...

1. Not sure if it was too complicated from a defensive AI perspective but I was wondering why you cannot create unbalanced formations like single wing and polecat teams run (which is perfectly legal at all levels of US football)?
for example
ETCGGTE (true single wing)
or
ETGGT C E (lonesone polecat)
or
ET GCG TE (80s BYU)

2. I was curious on how to set the qb logic so that he just takes off and runs full speed once he receives the snap (rather than plodding along looking for a receiver? (Ie have a "run to" option for the qbs commands).

3. I'd like to adjust the line splits on the OL to cut off penetration and build double and single wing offenses. Is this possible?

Again, I'm having fun with the game so I know I'm expecting way to much. I was just curious.



TJG

#2. Can't you just do a move to command. Try a couple of those command points like you would a running back, and on the last one make him "move to endzone" to get him to take off downfield. Should be pretty simple if you don't mind getting your QB killed.

TJG, your are only the 3rd person that I know of who is familiar with the lonesome pole cat formation, the others being myself and the one who taught it to me. In my coachings days just lining up in the formation won a game for us because the defense called their last time out enabling us to run out the clock with the lead. A couple years later we used it for a come from behind game winning drive.

Where did you coach?

I think the Polecat is a nice way for woefully untalented teams to move the ball. We always ran it as 1 play with 3 options. The QB would count the defenders in each zone and depending on where we outmanned them we would throw the hitch-n-go to the wide/strong side, dump to the C (who was also the end in our version) or run right with a FL blocking in a pick-like fashion. They never cover the Snapper when he is the end! You have to let the refs know beforehand, though.

We also ran some extreme single wing out of short punt formation with the same options. It looked like this...("S" is for snapper).

---ETGGTTC
--W F-----------R
Q

Too bad you can't do this in this game.

My formation didn't translate well. At any rate, the Q is 7 yards behind the C. The beauty of it is in US High School you can't smash the Center so he can get off into his route untouched!

I coached youth football (jr. high age) in a small high desert town in southern California years ago. The lonesome pole cat was an emergency formation for us to use when all else failed. In 7 years we showed once and only ran 2 plays as mentioned above but practiced it often. The team really liked it because "Coach, that's so weird". We would break the huddle, sprint to formation with our backs to the D and watch the QB who read the D. Give one of 10 hand signals calling the play, immediately got set and snapped on a silent count. If D called TO we immediately broke formation and sprinted in random directions to prevent the coaching staff from getting a long look at the formation. We ran the obvious plays but also included motion and other "tricks". Definately had to inform the zebras of the formation prior to the game, I actually showed them the playbook to make sure they understood. You name it and I probably had it in my playbook, plus my own "silly" stuff. We always started very simply and added what the team could handle, both on O and D. Your extreme single wing looks like it would mess with the D as much as my "power bone" formation did, and we threw out of it as much as we ran. Sometimes spit one or both receivers, send FB in motion just for fun.

TE T G C G T TE
QB

FB
H H

edit note: formation didn't translate well, QB and FB in line behind C with right H in gap between RG and RT with far right H in gap between RT and RTE.

I would love to have seen your kids run plays out of it. Sounds like we think a lot alike. I coach youth in Denver area for last 5 years.

Ever shift your Hs and TES out wide to hollow out the backers and then sneak or dive up the middle for 50 yards? I LOVE THAT PLAY! You can get some wicked crossbucks and DE traps going with that 'bone of yours. We used to cross kids up so bad the counter back would be 25 yards away from the defense when he crossed the goal line.

But I love youth coaches who have so little creativity that they think 4 wide is as radical as it gets. Everybody runs the power I in our town. I'm going to run the unbalanced single wing (for the panic/mismatch factor). You mention direct snap to these coaches and they act as though you are committing blasphemy. I love it when they turn up their noses.

Oh yeah, alot. I'd run the dive to the same hole, say the 2, many times getting their LB to cheat. Then I'd run a counter to the 1 for a big gain. Then run the counter a handful of times to get the DB's to cheat in, fake the counter and hit the WR for a trip to the beach. My coaching philosophy was take what they give you, impose your will when you must, show 'em what they haven't seen and even if they know it's coming you out-execute and out-hussle 'em. In essense, when you least expect it you better expect it. Probably the biggest benefit we got from the "trick formations" or the "surprise set up plays" was learning what to do and what not to do on D. I was real big on teaching why things were done a certain way and why things worked as much as how they were done proberly. With a more solid understanding of the game they were much better prepared to handle something we didn't go over in practice. When they were able to handle those types of things on their own correctly, I knew the other coaches and I were doing a decient job.

Download Old Coach's plays
He has single wing formations
I haven't been messin with formations just yet.

But those plays helped me out alot [:)]

Guys,
As soon as I can, I will send a more extensive single wing playbook to Erik to post on the Members forum. I also have a playbook with wishbone and splitback veer plays that I need to update. I hope to be able to post the single wing stuff this weekend.

Old Coach