This past season, Mississippi State’s #1 ranked defense went head-up against their former coach and offensive genius Dan Mullen’s Florida Gators. UF came out on top, in a 13-6 defensive showout (not struggle). However, MSU did a great job defending the many tricks Mullen had up his sleeve. Many times, people only see box scores or big-picture narratives that happen in the game. More often than not however, the game is won within many little small chess matches, and we will discuss a really intriguing one from this late September matchup.

It was evident early in the game, UF had a plan of attack for the Bulldogs defense. They based out of only 4 formations, but still stressed the defense with every single one. The two major formations was Formation into the boundary(FIB) and Unbalanced Overloads.

FIB(FORMATION INTO BOUNDARY)

Every defensive coordinator needs to be ready for formation into the boundary. But what is FIB and why do offenses use it?

Offenses employ three receivers into the boundary to try and dictate the defense’s alignment . Defenses either decide to defend the open grass presented by the hashes, or the numbers into the boundary; but not both. UF aligned into the boundary almost 20 times in the game, with differing success against the best defense in College Football. It makes it a great place to study how to defend FIBs, why offenses utilize them, and what happens when you don’t defend them properly.

Formations are just that, formations. the real info is the relation between formation employed and play concept called. Defensive coaches must understand why offenses are using the formations they use, and empower their players with that knowledge so they can reduce the number of possibilities finitely as they can. So what was UF trying to accomplish? Coming, into the game UF utilized different formations to gain angles for their Power-gap and Split Zone runs. Generically, once defenses added to the box or formations dictated giving UF horizontal grass, Mullen would throw screens to the uncovered-down receiver. Outside of sprinkled in deep shots, that is how Florida’s Offense looked on film. (UF doubled down on this tactic throughout the game). Below is an example of what FIB can do to defenses, if they lose focus for just one moment. With a clear miscommunication(#40 and a coach on the sideline panicking to direct players where they’re suppose to be) #32 aligns out of position and UF gets an easy 1st down on the Key Screen

Let’s breakdown a few more FIB plays:

UF Motions their hybrid TE/Receiver into the boundary, using him and the boundary #2 to block on the key screen. Early in the game, this was most likely a script call from Mullen to see how the Bulldogs would defend FIB. Bob Shoop and Mississippi State did what many great defenses do: Show static alignment and change the picture for the offense post-snap. The picture below is how MSU will align(mostly) to FIB for the entirety of the game(20 snaps of data)

Coach Shoops is using the width(lack thereof) between the hash and sideline to his advantage, daring the offense to throw into the tight area and allow his SEC defender’s speed to run down cutbacks. This is shown on the very first play, where the play side End and Mike attack inside-out, tackling the receiver for a minimal gain.

Mississippi State’s pre-snap 2-high structure keeps the Free Safety in a position that doesn’t “un-dress” the corner to the field in a 1-on-1 situation. His MOF alignment will force runs back into the help aligned into the boundary, having depth and width from the core of the offense to maintain his leverage.

Instead of “defending”, MSU decided to attack and shove UF’s FIB tactic back at them. The short distance of the Apex defender in the boundary from the C-gap, and consequently, the ball carriers(because of Florida’s Formation) made easy access of Strong-side Blitzes. Coach Shoops utilized this in a litany of ways. The most well-known blitz in Football rears it’s timeless head; MSU Fires the Nickel off the edge, Stunts the D-line into the field (protecting the direction the run will most likely attack) and rams the Mike linebacker into the B for good measure. This attacks the Pass protection, Getting a charging linebacker 1-on-1 with a Runingback.

No the Blitz does not end in a sack. Yes, impressively the Right tackle picks up the non-conventional outside blitzer(whether or not this is what is intended). Sacks are a byproduct of pressure, not the other way around. It is more important that defenses affect passers in and out of the pocket. Great vertical pressure is gained by the stunning D-lineman, walling and suffocating the air out of the Frank’s pocket; the aggressive blitz by the backer pushed the blockers into the Q’s lap. this influences an uncomfortable, and inaccurate, throw.

Early in the game, UF placed the Back into the boundary, emptying the backfield with 3 receivers still in the boundary. MSU brought boundary pressure (like aforementioned), which collaterally stretched the Middle hook player and opened them up for a Double slant concept from the field for a solid gain. MSU learned from its mistake. To the boundary, Florida ran a “Snag” Concept: Spot by 1, Corner(7) by 2, and Arrow by 3. They went to this concept again, this time motioning the Back out to the field. 3 defenders over 2 receivers to the field pushes Frank’s eyes into the boundary. MSU bluffs pressure, playing Quarters coverage to both sides of the field. Lack of spacing(because of FIB) gave the “relate to #3” Mike backer a short field. he gets to the near hip of the spot route, punches through the receivers hands. The ball pops into the air and the boundary corner easily intercepts it. Big play for a defense recognizing formational tendencies, and using them to pressure the offense.

UNBALANCED (OVERLOADS)

Offenses are only limited by the rulebook and their imagination: most 11-man football rulebooks state that 7 offensive players have to be on the LOS, with the only the most outside players on the LOS eligible to receive a pass. UF and many other offenses creatively align both LOS receiver to the same side, making the inside player ineligible as a trade-off, to overload defenses to one side of the center-line. Pictured above, the 4 remaining “backfield” players can motion and move to outflank defenders pre and post snap. When in game preparation defensive coaches and players need to be cognizant to recognize when up-tempo offense use overloaded formations, to not be in “palms up” defense as Tom Herman calls it. Florida aligned 9 times in this formation, using a slew of Split Zone, gap schemes, quick screens, and the rare shot(very similar to FIB and UF’s offense in general). It appeared that Frank would approach the line and make a simple box/grass count: if #3 was “accessible”, having open area between him and the nearest defender, he would override the Run concept and throw it quickly; if the box numbers looked advantageous or the screen was not accessible, he would hand it off.

Like before, MSU elects to adjust to overloads and unbalanced formations with their Linebackers and overhangs, by “pulling the chain” toward to populated side. Even though #2 is on the LOS, and ineligible, he still poses the most dangerous perimeter blocking threat; ignoring him would allow the offense to outflank them with bubbles and horizontal stretches. However, the overhang to him must be cognizant not to fall into the bluffed route or distraction he may attempt in the pass distribution(he cannot receive a ball). The overhang aligns with outside leverage on #2, to defend the quick screen by either #3 or #1. If the backside Tackle has any number between 50 through 79, he is not eligible to go out for a pass either(offenses may be better served to put a receiver in his place and overload the Offense Line as well). The threat of a route weak is severely low (RB flare/wheel or drag from the frontside) therefore MSU pulls their entire back seven defenders a man over, putting the backside corner as a pseudo safety. UF’s attempt to quickly outflank the defense is thwarted by communication and preparation

However, MSU did not go unblemished. Mullen and UF used the Bulldog’s over-adjustment to get solid gains, especially on this play in the middle of the second Quarter:

UF starts this awesome constraint play by faking inside zone, which is their #1 run play. Franks reaches the ball out and the Back takes a step toward the mesh; but just as quickly, they expand fast to the alley, gaining pitch relation for speed option. The play-side Tackle arc blocks around the end; seeing the fake IZ mesh, the Defensive End steps down to take away the area. By great play design, this gave UF exactly what it wanted. The squeezing DE created an easy read for the QB, he flips it out almost immediately to the pitch man. The crucial block comes from that Arcing Tackle. If he successfully(which he does) gets hands on the Force backer to the short edge, the pitch player will have plenty of daylight to make a play. Here is the video below:

Modern defenses must be prepared for the uptempo tactics offenses use to get the advantage. By understanding the why’s and how’s of offenses, we’re better equipped to attack and stop them. Mississippi State’s ability to recognize what the offense was trying to accomplish is critical to their success. I’m also a huge believer, with how close the Coaching community is and has gotten due to technology and resources, that if you see it on Saturdays you better start prepping to defend it on Friday Nights because its coming to our game sooner rather than later

You can reach out to me through this Website or on Twitter @MillennialC0ach! Got a couple big things coming soon, including a Video series and reestablishing a podcast. You can check out the first two episodes of the podcast under the tab “Football Coaches Podcast”. Thank you!