Yesterday I wrote a blog post on the history of the T-Formation and hit on some teams in modern day using it. Looked into some 2021 Penn State Film to break down the plays they ran in the package. Based on film I've seen online there's more to the package than shown in 2021, but this is a good starting point if you wanted to incorporate this package or something similar to your offense this upcoming season.
First let's look at how and where they used this package. The "Trident," package s they call it they ran four times in 2021. the situations were exactly what you would expect to see 32 personnel in, short yardage, and goal line. We'll define an efficient play in these situations as a score or converted first down on terminal downs (3rd down in a situation when it's convert or punt / kick a field goal, or a got to have it 4th down). On non terminal downs would call efficient half the distance needed.
Penn State first went to the T-Formation on 4th&1 against Villanova. Penn State converted running the Lead play one of the two plays they ran in the 2021 season out of this package. They ran the ball to the offensive right off tackle, probably due to having numbers and leverage. Villanova in their base odd personnel looked prepared to defend the sneak. They convert making it efficient.
The next week Indiana looks prepared for the personnel on the goal line and stops them on a 4th & goal on the 1, when they ran the same lead off tackle play to the left this time. Indiana looked to have a solid plan to give a balanced look and make it harder for Penn State by forcing them to be perfect with every block they had because they were a hat for a hat.
The next time we saw the package was at the Big House later in the season. Penn State scored on the lead play off tackle to the left side. which was 2 defenders lighter than the right side.
Up until this point the three times Penn State ran the package they ran one run scheme two different directions. Against Michigan Penn State went with a new play on 4th & goal on the two yard line. This time selling play action off the same play they hit the tight end on a corner for a touchdown.
Overall this package was at 75% efficiency by looking at these plays. The one inefficient play can be looked at and corrected easily and worked later on in the season so I can definitely see why they would've expanded the package this past season or ran more plays from this formation in the 2022 season.
Now that we looked at how they did and what some of the things they did well are we can get into more of the nitty gritty of the schemes they ran. The first play we're looking at is the "Lead" play.
The Fullback and Halfback to the direction of the call are going to lead the backside Halfback on this play. Penn State runs a Double Tight T-Formation, meaning the formation is balanced there's no run strength by formation. This lets the QB have some freedom on the line of scrimmage I'd assume to not run the play where they're out numbered. This drawing is drawn up from an even look for that reason. The line and and tight ends are going to block down like they would in gap schemes like power or counter. What's unique about this is similar to Duo there is no pulling linemen which is helpful in situations where a run through backer can ruin a play. There is some stress on the tight ends and the line for single blocks, but as seen recently with the jaguars T-Formation play, alot of defenses will focus on inside gaps to stop sneak or interior runs so that can helpful to the blocks. Harder blocks to make this play are the ball carriers not getting the ball. The near Halfback needs to kick out the edge and act like the first puller in a gap scheme. the Fullback will act like the second puller swapping the deck if there's any mess inside the kick out, and look scrape to alley.
The other play they ran was the touchdown pass against Michigan. With the same backfield action they ran a play action pass with the same backfield action.
The diagram above was the pass. The protection was a 7 man PAP pro the line looked to side away from the action. The fullback took anything off the front edge the with halfback who fakes taking anything else that comes off the edge. The halfback near side to the action runs a flat past the sticks or goal line similar to his kick, the frontside tight end runs a corner to the back pylon giving him enough room to get thrown open short. Although not as much conflict as an RPO because the ball is predetermined to be a pass. There is conflict to the edge who looks like he's getting run action to him as well as off defenders. The lines protection is similar to the action but protects the QBs blind side with two guys in pro frontside. This helps suck the defense up on the fake, makes decision making for the QB pretty easy with a high low read.
Appreciate you taking the time to read the blog hope this helps,
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