I have two backs that I would like to get over 1,000 yards each and split their carries 50/50 or 60/40. What are you guys doing with a crowded backfield: form subs, auto subs (what are your settings), designated formations, hb at wr packages, etc? Thanks
I play two backs in a majority of my formations this season, a flex back (F) and a more traditional runner (T). I have a handful of normal two back formations, Split Offset being my favorite but most of the time I utilize a combination of packages and formation subs to get the second back on the field. Some examples:
Pistol Twin TE Slot
----X---------------------T-G-C-G-T-TE--------------
----------------Z------------------------F------------
--------------------------------Q----------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------T----------------------
That's probably my base formation, I run Strong Power, Counter, Stretch and Lead Option and then I have two Pistol H Twins audibles. Triple Option Left and Right. That lets me quick motion the F back into the backfield to serve as a dive back or pitch back on option. I find that I have a ton of success with that set of plays.
Pistol Weak Slot
----X-------------T-G-C-G-T------------------Z----
----------------------------------------F------------
-------------------FB--Q---------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
------------------------T----------------------------
I have another series out of this where I come out in Lead Option. If no one covers the F-back/slot WR, I will quick PA audible to bubble screen and throw it out there. That's an easy 5+ yards. If someone covers him and I get two high, I'll just run the lead option as called. If the defense drops a safety (or is in 425/335), I have two Pistol Full House audibles where the F-back/slot comes in pseudo Jet motion into the backfield to run either Off Tackle (essentially Jet Sweep) and Triple Option Wk where he becomes to pitch back.
I do similar things out of Gun 4WR Trio (Offset). Put the F-back in the inner most slot, with the TE as the middle slot. If no one covers him, I'll just quick check and throw bubble. If I get two high, I'll run inside zone/read. If I get a safety dropped down, I have Split Offset Triple Option as my 5th audible and I can motion the F into the backfield and use him as a dive back.
I do similar stuff in under center Weak Normal I (Over), where I only have two plays. Fly Sweep and Fk Fly Dive.
------WR-------------T-T-G-C-G-T----------------
------------------------------Q-----------------F---
-------------------------FB-------------------------
------------------------------T----------------------
Extra OL formation subbed at the ineligible TE spot, FB or TE at FB. I'll call Fly Sweep in the huddle. If I have numbers playside, I'll just run it with my F-back running Fly. If I don't, I'll quick run audible to Fk Fly Dive and hand it to the tailback.
In my three Strong I formations, I only run FB Dive, HB Toss and PA FB. I put my power back at FB, my F-Back at HB. Call FB Dive in the huddle, if it is there, take it. If there is no overhang player to the strong side, I'll quick run audible to HB Toss to get my F-back in space. If I have a really fast WR, I'll even sub him in at HB in Strong.
Hopefully that gives you some ideas. It works for me, but I can imagine a lot of people wouldn't want to commit a bunch of audibles like I do. I play around with formation subs and packages quite a bit in order to break formation tendencies out of the huddle and to get different players in space. If I don't have the tailbacks to run something like that, I'll sub receivers, fullbacks or even tight ends into those positions.