Our new "Husker Power" Formation

[Doc Fumble]

Jay Moore on Big Red Wrap-Up called the run-heavy "jumbo package" we saw that's designed to overpower a defensive front in a short-yardage situation, the "Stacked Maryland I-formation."

I beg to differ. I looked this stacked Maryland I formation up on the interwebs and it does not picture the formation we saw the Huskers run on Saturday. At his presser yesterday, Holgorsen said he doesn't have a name for it.

The stacked Maryland I shows the QB under center with one fullback behind him and two hands-on-their knees RBs behind the fullback. All of them in one straight line. That is not what we saw.

Our formation had Colandrea under center and Rush End, Anthony Jones lined up in the backfield as an extra tight end and DT Jahsear Whittingham was offset behind him as a fullback and Jamal Rule was offset behind our DT turned would-be fullback--ALL OF THEM were in a three-point stance.

In all my years of fandom, I had never seen that line-up before. I loved it! If I'm the Husker OC, I run every play in of my playbook out of that formation. Just the look of the damn thing gives me goosebumps!!!

 

[Doc Fumble]

I couldn't find a shot of the formation so I screen-shotted one:

 

[Nebraska99]

I'm always open to new and innovative formations.

 

[Pavlov's Dog]

We may have found a solution to our 3rd and short and 4th and short. That's been an Achilles heel for us in the past.

 

[Doc Fumble]

I looked up the "offset power I" formation and it's not that either. In that formation, the tight end is off the line, but not in the backfield.

I was originally thinking "Battering Ram" but I think The Best name for our new line-up is The "Husker Power" formation.

 

[Pavlov's Dog]

I'll consider a name once it shows it works in the B1G. Anything works against teams like Bowling Green. Heck, we could put punters and kickers back there and get three yards.
Until proven in the B1G, it's just a gimmick.
YMMV

 

[Doc Fumble]

I'll consider a name once it shows it works in the B1G.

Come on, PD, don't be such a fuddy-dud.

For an offense that has been underwhelming in recent years on short yardage situations, I loved its design--and its effectiveness. It worked extremely well both times they ran it.

And using Blackshirts, Jones and Whittingham, it brought back memories of the Chicago Bears and William 'the refrigerator' Perry as a fullback.

Yeah, you can be assured that every B1G DC we face will be looking at ways to stop it. But I'm guessing Dana has some cool plays up his sleeve besides two extra blockers for a Rule power dive up the gut...

For example, like Colandrea faking to Rule and bootlegging the other direction looking for his TE, Lindenmeyer. Me thinks there's a reason you don't see Lindenmeyer or Bonner in the backfield.

 

[justino52]

I like the formation. The backside could be where there are issues though. If the end or linebacker hits it fast enough and at an angle they'll bring the ball carrier down especially if there is any hesitation or penetration from the middle or strong side.
In the still picture you have 7 blockers vs 4 defenders. They should get yardage every time.

 

[Doc Fumble]

In the still picture you have 7 blockers vs 4 defenders. They should get yardage every time.

That's my take too!

I like the formation. The backside could be where there are issues though. If the end or linebacker hits it fast enough and at an angle they'll bring the ball carrier down especially if there is any hesitation or penetration from the middle or strong side.

That's where a defense has to be careful. Selling out from the backside would leave your defense vulnerable to a bootleg.

 

[Pavlov's Dog]

Okay, if you're thinking about naming the formation, if it continues being effective, I'd go with "The Porterhouse Formation". 'cuz we're bringing the beef.

 

[Doc Fumble]

Okay, the following is a clear sign I have WAY too much time on my hands...

I emailed The Voice of the Huskers, Kyle Crooks, this morning after my OP here and told him the same thing I said here: that his broadcasting buddy, Jay Moore was wrong about it being the stacked Maryland I formation.

I suggested, since Dana said in yesterday's presser that he didn't have a name for it, he give it a name from the broadcast booth the next time they run out of that formation--and suggested it be our very own Husker Power formation.

Update: Kyle responded to me this afternoon with the following:

"I think 'Offset Maryland I" or the "Broken Maryland I" would be the best way to describe it. It's not quite "Maryland I" but the FB/HBs are offset in the backfield instead of in a straight line.

I am curious to see if they have a specific name for it that Dana isn't aware of. I LOVE the 'Husker Power' name!!

Thanks for the note, (Fumble)!"

 

[Husker99]

I'll tell you a couple of formations I'd love to see Nebraska's offense start using again: The Power I and Diamond (or any formation that puts more than one RB on the field).

 

[Pavlov's Dog]

I'd like to occasionally see 3 WRs and Carter Nelson at tight end with Rule alone in the backfield. Or 4 WRs! I DARE the opposing team to send more than four at Colandrea. He makes quick decisions and can be mobile enough to get his 2.8 seconds. We have the dangerous receiving corps that will stress ANY secondary. If the 4th receiver is Carter or Quinn Clark, who's gonna cover them? Ain't no linebacker gonna do it. Even with a dime defense, you can dump it off to Rule in space. Even the best tacklers miss once in a while and BOOM! TD!
And.....just to fake keeping it on topic, we could go for two with the Husker Power formation.

 

[j d]

I'd like to occasionally see 3 WRs and Carter Nelson at tight end with Rule alone in the backfield. Or 4 WRs! I DARE the opposing team to send more than four at Colandrea. He makes quick decisions and can be mobile enough to get his 2.8 seconds. We have the dangerous receiving corps that will stress ANY secondary. If the 4th receiver is Carter or Quinn Clark, who's gonna cover them? Ain't no linebacker gonna do it. Even with a dime defense, you can dump it off to Rule in space. Even the best tacklers miss once in a while and BOOM! TD!
And.....just to fake keeping it on topic, we could go for two with the Husker Power formation.

Don't disagree with using this at times. My question is, what have you seen from Nelson at TE that makes you want to see him in the formation?

 

[Doc Fumble]

we could go for two with the Husker Power formation.

Goosebumps!!!

I'd like to occasionally see 3 WRs and Carter Nelson at tight end with Rule alone in the backfield.

I realize that Carter Nelson is a former 5-star from Nebraska--but, honestly, what has he done to deserve the fans' adoration?

Holgorsen has praised Luke Lindenmeyer for his incredible play but I've never heard him gush that way about Nelson. If anything, he's been less-than-thrilled with all of Luke's back-ups which includes Carter.

When it comes to having a linebacker forced to cover one of our guys, Dana has been the most enthusiastic about his "4 WR -- 0 TE" set which adds Quinn Clark. According to our OC, Clark is our best 'secret weapon.'

 

[Crusader Husker]

I would like to see us go 32 with Rule, Mozee and MN and then shift to a 12 look. Have Carter At one ofg the TE positions.

 

[Righteous Red]

An unexpected wrinkle would be to have one of those DL players in the backfield block then release into the end zone for a TD catch. The TE would drag the CB away to open an area for DL player coming out of the backfield. The DL players will be told in uncertain terms that they either catch the ball or run stadium steps the next week

 

[Righteous Red]

Suggested name of this formation: The Feedlot Formation.
It would be a tip of the hat to Nebraska agriculture, and big beef.

 

[Pavlov's Dog]

RE: Carter Nelson
My memory ain't so great now that I'm older, but didn't Rhule talk about finding athletes with measurables and developing them into football players when he first got here? Didn't Carter come here with all the measurables and some 7-7 experience? Isn't it time to show some development? Or are we just going to say we need some Tight Ends from the portal next year? Carter got in a lot of games last year, and has a lot of practice play. Either he's a D1 Tight End or he's not. He played more his freshman year than last year, and now we're saying he can't play? Every recruiting service ranked him as a top ten TE recruit with some having him as high as the 2nd best. Why isn't he ready? He's possibly the fastest TE in D1 football.

 

[Crusader Husker]

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