Delaware Wing T

[BozAngelesGriz]

Do they still run this formation? I lived in the mid-Atlantic for a couple of years in middle/high school and we ran it. I was an undersized guard but pulled a bunch. Just curious if UD (or anyone) is still using this formation. Very basic but can also be very effective.

 

[grizfan95]

They do not.

 

[DrainBramage]

Sac state used it in the UND game, on the goaliline

 

[armonte]

Sac used it against us last year and we use the T formation near the goal line or heavy set.

 

[Wolf777]

The concepts from the wing-t are rampant across football today, just through different formations. The whole purpose of the wing-t is to create mismatches against the defense through motions and fakes and putting a body on a body. By doing this you can overload one side of the defense consistently by getting one or two guys more on a side than the defense can. It also used veer concepts to allow for multiple options against guys strategically remaining unblocked as reads. The +1 game that the bison have utilized for years are similar using pulling lineman and running backs to create mismatches while utilizing their qb as a runner. We’ve seen it from the cats the last couple of years as well with great effect. I would argue the concepts of todays RPO are very similar as well, but modernized to get max effect of the passing game as the game and defenses have progressed. The initial spread offense that we saw emerge also took a lot of the same concepts.

If you look at our offense this year, the two things that made it come alive were the widening of our splits and having a qb who is a threat to run on any down. The wide splits are a hallmark of the wing-t. The wide splits stretch the defense creating seems and running lanes. The defense has to remain loyal to their base front due to responsibilities in gap control/responsibility, in
coverage and their role in containment on the edge. If you move two DE’s from 15 feet apart to 30 feet you’ve just doubled the area that tackles and linebackers are responsible for. Teams could load the box, but that creates mismatches in the passing game(a weakness in a true wing-t). Couple that with the wide array of formations where we are motioning a slot back (very similar to an h back) across that can take a sweep, force the coverage/blitz to show or check out, or get into a route, all of which help identify or create a mismatch.

The wing-t as a base offense has been relegated to high school due to the modernizing of defenses and the quality of athlete at college and pro levels, but it still has a limited place. It can still give teams fits (I.e. Georgia tech, cal-poly, Army, and Air Force when they were all running triple option until the last few years), and as you’ve heard Bobby say, he’s happy he doesn’t have to prepare for it anymore. Most coaches share the same sentiment.

 

[MontanaJack2006]

Mr. T invented the formation, traditionally ran by A-Teams. Lost traction when B.A Baracus filed a series of copywriter infringements. Such a pity for the fools.

 

[BozAngelesGriz]

The concepts from the wing-t are rampant across football today, just through different formations. The whole purpose of the wing-t is to create mismatches against the defense through motions and fakes and putting a body on a body. By doing this you can overload one side of the defense consistently by getting one or two guys more on a side than the defense can. It also used veer concepts to allow for multiple options against guys strategically remaining unblocked as reads. The +1 game that the bison have utilized for years are similar using pulling lineman and running backs to create mismatches while utilizing their qb as a runner. We’ve seen it from the cats the last couple of years as well with great effect. I would argue the concepts of todays RPO are very similar as well, but modernized to get max effect of the passing game as the game and defenses have progressed. The initial spread offense that we saw emerge also took a lot of the same concepts.

If you look at our offense this year, the two things that made it come alive were the widening of our splits and having a qb who is a threat to run on any down. The wide splits are a hallmark of the wing-t. The wide splits stretch the defense creating seems and running lanes. The defense has to remain loyal to their base front due to responsibilities in gap control/responsibility, in
coverage and their role in containment on the edge. If you move two DE’s from 15 feet apart to 30 feet you’ve just doubled the area that tackles and linebackers are responsible for. Teams could load the box, but that creates mismatches in the passing game(a weakness in a true wing-t). Couple that with the wide array of formations where we are motioning a slot back (very similar to an h back) across that can take a sweep, force the coverage/blitz to show or check out, or get into a route, all of which help identify or create a mismatch.

The wing-t as a base offense has been relegated to high school due to the modernizing of defenses and the quality of athlete at college and pro levels, but it still has a limited place. It can still give teams fits (I.e. Georgia tech, cal-poly, Army, and Air Force when they were all running triple option until the last few years), and as you’ve heard Bobby say, he’s happy he doesn’t have to prepare for it anymore. Most coaches share the same sentiment.

That’s a lot of great info, thanks

 

[BozAngelesGriz]

Mr. T invented the formation, traditionally ran by A-Teams. Lost traction when B.A Baracus filed a series of copywriter infringements. Such a pity for the fools.

I love it when a plan comes together

 

[Kodiak]

The concepts from the wing-t are rampant across football today, just through different formations. The whole purpose of the wing-t is to create mismatches against the defense through motions and fakes and putting a body on a body. By doing this you can overload one side of the defense consistently by getting one or two guys more on a side than the defense can. It also used veer concepts to allow for multiple options against guys strategically remaining unblocked as reads. The +1 game that the bison have utilized for years are similar using pulling lineman and running backs to create mismatches while utilizing their qb as a runner. We’ve seen it from the cats the last couple of years as well with great effect. I would argue the concepts of todays RPO are very similar as well, but modernized to get max effect of the passing game as the game and defenses have progressed. The initial spread offense that we saw emerge also took a lot of the same concepts.

If you look at our offense this year, the two things that made it come alive were the widening of our splits and having a qb who is a threat to run on any down. The wide splits are a hallmark of the wing-t. The wide splits stretch the defense creating seems and running lanes. The defense has to remain loyal to their base front due to responsibilities in gap control/responsibility, in
coverage and their role in containment on the edge. If you move two DE’s from 15 feet apart to 30 feet you’ve just doubled the area that tackles and linebackers are responsible for. Teams could load the box, but that creates mismatches in the passing game(a weakness in a true wing-t). Couple that with the wide array of formations where we are motioning a slot back (very similar to an h back) across that can take a sweep, force the coverage/blitz to show or check out, or get into a route, all of which help identify or create a mismatch.

The wing-t as a base offense has been relegated to high school due to the modernizing of defenses and the quality of athlete at college and pro levels, but it still has a limited place. It can still give teams fits (I.e. Georgia tech, cal-poly, Army, and Air Force when they were all running triple option until the last few years), and as you’ve heard Bobby say, he’s happy he doesn’t have to prepare for it anymore. Most coaches share the same sentiment.

All of this is great. I'll add a few things. The traditional Wing T set has a TE, Wing back, fullback behind the QB, Halfback behind the weak tackle and split end. There are many other sets where gap blocking can be used as well. Gap blocking as detailed above takes advantage of angles, speed, and agility by lineman. If run effectively gap schemes can allow smaller lineman compete with larger players. This is in contrast to zone blocking which is usually man on man or double teams using strength to move bodies.

One of the most popular gap scheme runs is buck sweep which has both guards pulling to the strong side. This gets the lineman in space and gives them angles to either kickout or seal defenders. Another feature of the wing T is having multiple plays that have the same action and must be honored by the defense. For example, buck sweep has the same backfield action as trap. So if the defense (linebackers/safeties) are overplaying buck sweep then trap will hit big underneath. Gap schemes are usually better against an even front due to angles but will also work against odd fronts.

As was stated above also, many teams are still using wing T concepts and gap blocking. Andy Reid and the Chiefs probably most prominently in the NFL, they run some awesome stuff. Many college and high school teams are doing more shotgun and one back wing sets to give them more options in the passing game. Penn State used a straight T set last year in the red zone. No wing back but three backs across the backfield. These concepts are timeless, the team that is better at blocking and tackling almost always wins. Football is awesome!

 

[Wolf777]

Great additions Kodiak. One of your points about multiple plays off a single set and motion is a key point of adapted concepts that I didn’t discuss. Take for example the jet motion we are seeing by Pease this year. I love the amount of plays we have seen off that Jet motion with our receivers, and feel that Pease has a few aces up his sleeve that we haven’t seen yet but I know exist. Forces the defense to be prepared for about anything.