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 Bobo

Offensive Coordinator University of Georgia

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 formations run by

University of Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. We will study the first of a few formations is the first two series of the SEC

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

NEXT TOPIC: Urban Meyer

Head Football Coach

Ohio State University

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Great play callers have a

signature. A signature is

something that is unique to

the play caller and it is often

hidden in plain sight. That

signature is also the reason

for a play callers success over

a long period of time.

Georgia is a very good

offense. Mark Richt is one of

the best offensive coaches in

the college game. His

influence on Mike Bobo’s play

calling is noticeable in his

formation sequences in this

SEC championship game vs.

Alabama. There are three

fundamental things missing

from these series of

formations. First, you see

absolutely no motion. Slot

formations are also missing.

Lastly you seldom see 3x1

Formations. In most cases it

would seem that not having a

these 3 variables would be a

detriment but Mike Bobo

seems to use very subtle yet

small variations as part of a

larger sequence of

formations. Field position

seems to be accounted for in

his formation which will be

explained further. Because of

the use of so many 2x2 sets

there is a greater relationship

between the offset back to

both #2 receivers. In this case

the “Y” and the “F.” After

many years of study,

formations themselves have

“tendencies”,independent of

the play caller, especially

when the hash is a major part

of the college football game.

The formations that Mike

Bobo uses are precise and

clean. You will see slight

variations of #2, or in this

case, the “F” receiver outside,

on, or inside the hash. This

will help identify the

signature of this master

architect.

Pro

Number of running backs: 1

Number of receivers: 3

Number of Tight ends: 1

Formation Type: Male

Formation demeanor: Run

1

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This is the second formation of

a 3 play series. There is only

one slight change that was

made in this formation

compared to the previous.

Notice how the offset back is

on the other side of the

quarterback. Many offensive

coordinators plan there

formations sequences in the

weeks game plan preparation

prior to the contest. Georgia

has a long term plan that

seems to span across the entire

season. A question to ask

about this Georgia offense is

how can this offense be this

good with very few variations

in there formations? This type

of plan has to be well thought

out over a very long period of

time to truly have an effect. As

you look at this formation a

few things stand out. Firstly, the

“F” or the #2 receiver in on the

line of scrimmage. Why is that

so important? In the passing

game it gives the “F” a direct

vertical path to the safety. In

the run game, a successful

cutback run play, places the

“F” in position to block the

nearest inside defender

pursuing the ball carrier from

inside out. Typically their is a

natural relationship between

an offset back, in any one back

formation, and the #2

receivers, in this case both the

“F” and the “Y.” The “R” is

who we call “MO.” “MO” is the

“M”iddle “Of” the 5 eligible

players. MO has a natural

attraction to the “Y” and, in this

case, an inherent need to repel

from the “F” especially in the

run game. The fundamental

question is why would this be

true for all one back type

formations? Well the answer

can be found in why many

offensive coordinators have

gone to running one back

formations out of pistol?

Pro

Number of running backs: 1

Number of receivers: 3

Number of Tight ends: 1

Formation Type: Male

Formation demeanor: Run

2

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Now notice the slight

variation to this formation

from the previous. What is the

difference? Now the “F” or

#2 receiver is off of the line

of scrimmage. Mike Bobo

employs slight variations as

part of a greater call

sequence. Georgia is a such a

good offense they need only

to vary their formations when

trying to control the situation

of the game. If you watch the

SEC championship game on

Youtube while reading this

you will notice that Georgia

was off schedule a few times

with a penalty and miscue

early on. You will see how

those variations are a direct

result of trying to stay on

schedule especially when it

comes to the back and the

near #2 receiver. As a point it

is very important to

understand that formations

design and tactical football is

rooted in the formations

themselves. Offensive

coordinators declare their true

intent and philosophy based

on formation structure and

field placement not plays. On

the front line of any battle

your tactical advantage can

be tied to the variety of

weapons you use but more

importantly how you use

them? Mike Bobo is master at

using these weapons.

Balanced 2x2 sets give you

subtle multiplicity in the

passing game a blatant

multiplicity in the running

game by placing all

defenders at the point of

attack! Offsetting “MO” or #3

in any one back formation

can lead to heavy tendencies

and predictability by an

offense. Mike Bobo does a

wonderful job of keeping

these tendencies hidden

behind slight variations.

Pro

Number of running backs: 1

Number of receivers: 3

Number of Tight ends: 1

Formation Type: Female

Formation demeanor: Pass

3

X

This is the first play of

the second series and

Mike Bobo starts off in a

Pro 3x1 formation. This

play actually resulted in

a false start. However

the question that needs

to be asked in why start

this series in a 3x1

formation?

Pro

Number of running backs: 1

Number of receivers: 3

Number of Tight ends: 1

Formation Type: Female

Formation demeanor: Pass

4

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What do you notice about

what Mike Bobo has done

with this formation?

Because of the previous

penalty play there is a

immediate need to get back

on schedule. The first thing

Mike Bobo did was placing

the quarterback under

center. Secondly, putting the

“R” back behind the center

in the middle of the

formation tells you that a

run play is highly probably.

The question that needs to

be asked is if the “F” or #2

receiver was off the ball,

would the chances of a run

play still be high?

Pro

Number of running backs: 1

Number of receivers: 3

Number of Tight ends: 1

Formation Type: Male

Formation demeanor: Run

5

X

Now it gets interesting! The

previous 4 2x2 formations

placed all the extended

eligible offensive players on

the offensive right side of the

formation or the defenses

left. What do you notice

about the depth of the back?

He is slightly deeper than in

any previous play call. This

play was infact a screen play

to the defenses right so it

makes sense why the back

would be deeper. Patterned

based formations and play

calls lead to confusion on

defense if you are not aware

of two mitigating factors.

First, you have to be aware

of the average number of

plays an offense wants to

run based on pervious

contest? Secondly, how many

plays did they average in

each drive? Why are these

questions so important to ask

while game planning against

a master architect like Mike

Bobo or any other master

play caller that we have

featured in these series of

writings? If you know the

formations you will now the

play callers intent. If you

know the order of hi

formations you will know the

play caller himself.

Pro

Number of running backs: 1

Number of receivers: 3

Number of Tight ends: 1

Formation Type: Male

Formation demeanor: Run

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