What's an Illegal Formation?

[@robertdascoli949]

I've been watching football for 30 years, and I have never understood what "covered up" meant when a ref would throw a flag for illegal formation. And now I do. Thank you.

[@jacoby8903]

I played and shit confused me💀

[@CIF-pm7tk]

only the player on the line at the end of the LOS with an eligible number may go down for a pass. its pretty simple

[@jamesberry3230]

only watched first three examples and 1st and 3rd are illegal formations not enough men on LOS tackles are too far off LOS

[@BossJefe1331]

WOW

[@justinharper6909]

You watched 30 years and never ever bothered to even ask some of your friends, or someone else who watches football. Man, that´s some next level ignorance.

[@JoeDaveycrockettsoundlabs]

“One more time for the people in the back” 😂 I was front and center and needed every one of those extra iterations 🙏

[@beansalad3785]

Guys, I think there are 7 people on the line of scrimmage

[@vaibhavchauhan7894]

You may be on something

[@aarondyer.pianist]

I had to run it back to the beginning several times to find where he said that.........

[@andrewdavis4295]

And 4 in the backfield

[@tedgey4286]

When did he say that?

[@matbettez3495]

Great freakin analysis. But do you see 4 in the backfield?

[@franchello1105]

I heard about this one high school that ran an A-11 Offense. The rule about the eligible numbers at the time only applied to non-kicking formations. This one school ran every play out of a punt formation and could decieve the defense who is elligble. They banned it the next year.

[@newagain9964]

That’s funny. And clever. Hope the OC had more than a trick formation tho.

[@damioncjm]

dwl 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gavinperkins3200]

I remember that….they played 2 QBs at the same time on almost every play.

[@TrillBill]

@@gavinperkins3200 WTF? 😆

[@niconesta8566]

I have watched the game for 30 years and this just made a complex game look even more complex. The complexity is what caught my attention and drew me in, the strategy that is such part of the game and the suspense. Now to my defense I live in Europe so I have absolutely no one I know that knows more about this sport than me. So what I was always wondering, and now even more so, is how in the hell this game, with its bazillion rules ever got invented?? It boggles my mind.

[@malarie-susangold9259]

The rules were added over time.

[@yoursleepparalysisdemon1828]

it’s kind of complicated but if you watch like 4 or 5 games you’ll have a pretty good understanding.

[@robertd.7060]

@@yoursleepparalysisdemon1828 NFL only gets MORE complicated , when you ONLY try to get way to FANCY , with your play calling ! This brings up these types of flags & ALSO brings up wasted time outs OR delay of the game flags ! Your not only facing a defense , but also a timer & the REFS mood for the day ? That , with some other dumb as@ play calling choices is what makes the game [ COMPILACTED ] ? The Fancy , Nancy play calls !

[@goldengoat1737]

So funny I was thinking the same thing! There are so many rules in foot ball it’s crazy! My uncle lives in Netherlands and loves football too

[@pumpkincoffee]

Games like this start simple, and as its played, more rules are added to shape it into the game it is. Watch the history of basketball, for example.

[@tundewilliams3350]

Tho im in my 30s and had never played football back home im learning a lot off your channel God bless 🙏

[@MrMitchbow]

Someone who’s never played football is learning a lot from a channel that does general football explanations? A miracle 🙏

[@samuelclayton08]

@@MrMitchbow i find ur sour cynicism thinly veiled as humor really sad, mostly bc i can relate to where ur coming from, but it's no fun. You're dissapointed about something, otherwise someone learning something wouldn't b a cause to throw the haterade. i wish u happy healings my dude, truely i do

[@MrMitchbow]

@@samuelclayton08 cynicism? Homie that was sarcasm. I think you’re projecting your sadness on me. I was making a joke lol not hating on the guy.

[@samuelclayton08]

@@MrMitchbow projection is (almost) all we do, esp. on YT comment sections, but beyond that, I'm saying ur joke wasnt really a joke, it was kinda just a mean thing to say to put down both this video & someone learning. And that leads me to strongly suspect ur coming from a sad place. or ur just a dick. or both. don't care either way, but if u are sad i hope u find happiness (if u want it)

[@joeblow9657]

13:27 "Like dating your sister" well if that isn't a southern expression I don't know what is. Thanks for making this vid JT, it really helped explain this concept to me as a casual fan!

[@paulquirk3783]

I think it's more of a Southern dating practice.

[@JOEL-mm7th]

No dating YOUR sister

[@Roscododger]

As a Scot, someone who didn't grow up learning things like this these, videos like this one are just great. To help you understand what its like having to understand illegal formations, illegal man downfield and neutral zone infraction for example is like you guys trying to understand what offside is in soccer.

[@JOEL-mm7th]

@Mickey Merzon the defensive line is basically 'the line of scrimmage '

[@niconesta8566]

Soccer is such a straight forward game. Off sides is the only kind of complex thing to explain. The other is that it just cannot get popular in the USA.

[@wyomingptt]

@Mickey Merzon pretty sure it's just the guy trying to score can't go past the other teams defensive guy(s) before he has the ball or something. Similar to offsides in hockey, it's too prevent "cherry picking" or having 1 guy stand by the opponents net and have someone get him the ball and score easily.

[@LeoAr37]

Ravens coaches need to see this video lol

[@cjwelch4275]

I think last week was the first game we haven’t had one man!! I thought for sure the toss back throw to Hollywood was coming back due to that

[@LeoAr37]

@@cjwelch4275 For real!! I couldn't believe it wasn't! 😂

[@Lstead15]

@11:35

[@marcemarc6516]

Out of all the cheating out of the patriots organization this is the one that bothers me and the reason being is you have to play the games even if your video taping. I think the pats went against the spirit of the game in every sense because they couldn’t beat a superior team that year and decided to pull some tricky substitution which has been outlawed now

[@johnbrowntheprophet]

I swear the Ravens have at least one or two illegal formation penalties called against them almost every game.

[@Johnysimus]

You could also mention the "typical" reasons the illegal formations penalties happen. It's usually a receiver who lines up incorrectly (they are supposed to line up on LOS and instead line up too far or the other way around). The receivers also use gestures to signal to the refs, where are they supposed to be lined up. That's what you see when a receiver has a stretched arm at about 45° forward or has stretched arm behind his back. If a ref sees this gesture and sees the receiver lined up wrong, it's polite to let them know and correct it. You can sometimes see an angry receiver after this penalty who is angry at the ref for not telling him. Thanks for the video JT ;) as a European coming to follow NFL late in life this nuanced rule took me a while to understand. It took me about 2 years actually. Another one like this is the "illegal man down field" with how the options for where inelligibles can be depending on where the pass (typically screen) is thrown - for a long time I didn't know there is a difference depending on where the receiver is. Also the actions that a defender can make within 1 yard of LOS, within 5 yards of LOS, those are also complicated. But I pretty much got these by now. After trying to study american football as a hobby for the past 4 years I am trying to focus on fine tuning one area that is still foggy to me - route names. People tell you "look at the route tree" but not every route is on the route tree. What is a "deep over", what is a "smoke route" what is a "fade route", "speed out" vs. "quick out" difference, "drag route" those are just a few that come to mind that I am not 100% on what the the person means when talking about these routes. Would be really nice to "all be on the same page" with regards to the basics.

[@webstercat]

Enjoyable content. F ball fan for many years but always something new to learn. Fan of the Big Guys in the Trenches..

[@HomemadeSubmarine]

This has confused me for so long and I even played football. Thanks for the great video!

[@DeLullu]

I've been watching your videos for a while now and just wanted to say thank you! this is, once again, a prime example of you explaining sometimes very confusing things in american football very clearly and with great examples! thanks for sharing your knowledge with us and keep up the great work. greetings from germany!

[@unclephill4764]

I played ball for 10 years. Played defense in college. Now I'm getting into coaching and drawing up plays, I'm having A hard time with formations. I needed this lol

[@xSnakeByte]

Thanks for this! As someone who considers himself more than a casual fan, but had never played the game, some X & O stuff I wasn't familiar with so this was really handy to see. Ive seen this penalty called but never really knew the differences between legal and illegal and how it relates to eligible receivers. Thanks!!

[@refntx5562]

If you believe this guy's explanation, you STILL don't know the difference between a legal and illegal formation.

[@joaostorer9661]

Hey JT, huge fan from Brazil here, i often I see reports of colleges QBs that are going to the draft and some people have concerns if the QB is not used to play undercenter. Could you explain the reason of this red flag?

[@TheQBSchool]

Good idea for a vid.

[@4011Harry]

JT will explain better but if you're always in shotgun, the defence is always in front of you. Under centre, if you're doing a play action, you turn your back from the defense and for a second you cannot see the defence. You have to get used to this. Also there's things like handoff footwork, selling the PA, ball exchange at the snap, etc that the QB just have to get used to.

[@davidrafferty2491]

@@4011Harry the real question to me is, what advantage is there to ever being under center. The only time I can really think is on very short yardage/ qb sneak situations. Otherwise shotgun seems outright superior. I guess there is a bit more risk of mishandled snaps but that is not necessarily clear cut. There are plently of under center fumbles and legs getting tangled up situations. I dont get the issue of why a QB even NEEDS to be under center.

[@ungivenfame1]

@@davidrafferty2491 Not that you can't run the football out of the shotgun formation but the hand off is further back and the running back might get the ball with less forward momentum. If you can only throw the ball out of the shotgun formation then you become predictable and will not be able to effectively run the ball.

[@davidrafferty2491]

@@ungivenfame1 I don't think any of that is true. I think there are alot of myths about running out of shotgun. It allows rpo's which can gain you a blocking advantage at the point of attack. Plus if you have an athlete at qb you now just have an outright blocking advantage if he is the ball carrier.

[@scottforrester6802]

I watch your videos regularly, thanks for this. As a football watcher, who never played, this was the most instructive video you’ve done. Maybe this could become a regular series to explain the rational of certain rules and formations? Thanks again.

[@thesavageavenger4477]

Just discovered this channel today, and already binging the hell out of if! Great content man! 💯

[@scottmoore5359]

I officiated football (high school) for 20 years as a referee. One of my jobs was checking for illegal formations and counting players after the ready-for-play and before the snap. I worked with the same guys on my officiating crew every year. After a few years, checking numbers and counting players became a 2-second routine. The center was 1 player, there were almost always 2 players on each side and most often 3 players on each side of the center, and you didn't even have to count because you can see 2 or 3 and call it OK. My linesman and side judge would hold their arm up on the offensive side of their body to indicate that the person closest to them on the field was on the line (arm not up) or in the backfield (arm up). The backfield guys (4 or less) were then easy to count and number. I would check for numbers and guys covered, and nod to each of my side guys that we were set. The linesman and side judge would ask the coaches during our pre-game if they would have their outside guys and slot guys ask to make sure they were on the line or off the line. Never got turned down in 20 years. I'll agree with lots of your comments about how confusing it is, and it did take a couple years for the process to become second nature, but even today, I subconsciously count players and check formations pretty much every play whether it's high school, college, or NFL. It only takes about 5 seconds and you're good to go. And splitting the players down into sub-groups (5 numbered 50-79, 2 or 3 on each side of the center) meant I didn't have to count to 11. You can see the side judge with his arm extended in one of your examples.

[@TheQBSchool]

Yup. I hope tempo and teams that shift/motion made life tough on ya

[@scottmoore5359]

We had one team that used a standard huddle. When they broke from the huddle, the center and 2 guards jumped out and sprinted to the line and got in their ready position. The rest of the players were still in the huddle formation. Then the wide-outs would sprint to their positions. Then the tackles and ends would sprint to their positions. The backfield would get to their positions and drop to their ready stance, and finally the QB would sprint up to the center, get under and the ball was immediately snapped. I had all kinds of motion and stop issues, but the team had been doing it for 25 years, and nothing in the process fooled the opponents. I talked to our state head-of-officials, and he said about the same - that's how they do it, let it go. BUT, he said, if they do something different and there's even a whisker of a chance they weren't set or on/off the line, flag them. The motion/shift things were pretty easy, since we had the end position already defined (number, on/off the line) and high school rules were a lot more rigid (or were enforced more rigidly). Motion guys couldn't move toward the line before the snap, double motion guys had to be really set, and 99% of the time, shifts onto/off the line only required getting set, as most high school teams weren't that sophisticated (which did make my life easier!). The only time my crew had a real illegal formation problem was one coach who threw a new formation into the game in the middle of the 3rd quarter, with 5 players in the backfield. Two flags went up, we walked off the 5 yards, and the coach called the same play, other side. Two flags up, coach was going appoplectic on the sideline. I could see something wasn't working right, took my time-out, went to him and told him 7 on the line, not 6, and he was still foaming at the mouth. I went back, he ran the same formation again. I wound up ejecting him from the game, only coach I threw out in 20 years. Found out later he was new, and had some basics of the game he needed to learn.

[@leavemanycredits]

I was expecting some coverage of bizarre formations, like Bengal split or swinging gate

[@scottmoore5359]

As an official, I'll tell you we saw our fair share of "swinging gate" and "fire drill" plays, and we'd do the look and count process I outlined above, and if anything smelled funky, the flag came out and we figured it out afterward. At our yearly rules meeting, every year, our head of officials would go through the process of explaining that the offense has an incredible, incredible advantage - they know when the ball is going to be snapped, who it's going to, where that person is heading for, who is blocking who, what misdirection is happening - and the defense doesn't know any of this. The defensive counter to this is that the defense doesn't have to set till the ball is snapped - they can run lots of stunts, fakes, re-alignments, and formations, all in motion, right up till the ball is snapped. The rules are there to maintain the balance between the advantage of the offense versus the fluidity of the defense. When we saw the trick plays, we (in seconds) sussed out what was happening, who gained an unfair advantage (if any), and allowed or penalized based on the underlying premise of the rules - snap the ball, run a play, try to reach the line-to-gain, all without finding a hole in the rules that could be used to make the balance unfair. I officiated a game where I saw a linebacker, on a field goal try, jump on the back of his defensive lineman ant leap to try to block the try. I saw it. I mentally ran through the rule book and case book (long since memorized), and I couldn't see anything that talked about this situation. I didn't through the flag. It was the last play of the first half, and I got an ear-full from the offensive coach (he was winning 48-0), as we went to the break. I grabbed my books, looked at areas I thought might be applicable (specific rules about the ball carrier hurdling a tackler, etc.), and found nothing. Talked to my head of officials the next day, and we both came up empty. The next year, when the rules came out, I found a rule change and a specific case addressing the play (from my game), and the NEW rule outlawing this action. The illegal formation (trick play) you're talking about doesn't come up very often because it's difficult to do, and it flies in the face of the reason for the rules - the balance between offense and defence.

[@lynngatrell7965]

I believe it's called "Undocumented Player Placement."

[@uanto]

Finally a good explanation about inellegible receiver

[@jameskirk1161]

JT must have know I'm zooted cuz he explained that shit over and over and it was helpful 🤙

[@codyschiemann4732]

Nice work. I would like to say your last two examples... the down linemen on the other side of the field can technically report as a eligable number, in that event you have to literally go up to the ref (before every single play that you are elegable) and the ref will get on the PA and say that number blah, blah is reporting as en eligable number. Sometimes you will hear it on TV. However that is a great beginners guide.

[@freechronic2813]

13:25 " in the SEC it's almost like dating your sister" ... Well yeah

[@colt5034]

Especially if you’re a roll tide player 😎

[@wyomingptt]

Come on be respectful, they draw the line at dating their cousin!

[@mrprimor227]

@@wyomingptt not often but it does happen that they stop at cousins.

[@teejarado5543]

this video is priceless - one of the best I've seen - because you simplified a great football mystery in a clear and very entertaining manner. I thank you much 💋💋

[@Boyso5407]

I’m so glad you mentioned what the Pats did against the Ravens. They used a RB, in this case Shane Vereen, as an eligible, ineligible receiver. He reported to the refs as ineligible. Then they had the TE line up in the tackle spot to make it look like he was an ineligible lineman but because Vereen was ineligible it made that TE eligible even though he was on the line. They ran that play twice in a row and both times no one covered the TE because the defense thought he was ineligible. It’s really an intelligent design to use to totally confuse a defense. Ironically the NFL made that play illegal the next year cause hey realized how difficult it was for a defense to diagnose it in real time.

[@Boyso5407]

And I forgot but to make it even more difficult on the Raven’s defense Brady actually faked a throw to Vereen on one of the plays.

[@donguiddodilozzo1906]

Thanks, because now I can understand why they take those dumb penalties !!! I'll be looking for those formations on the next game, the Superbowl LV !!! Great timing !

[@adrianbradley8513]

I've been an American Football 🏈 fan over here in Northern Ireland (GO 49ERS) since the mid eighties when I was a teenager. I remember learning about minimum of 7 players on the line of scrimmage when I first learnt the rules THEN in my twenties when I watched a few amateur games and saw flags being thrown for "5 men in the back field" I thought "Why don't they say that there is only 6 or less on the offensive line "which to me makes more sense.DOH 🤯

[@jamesdarcy3902]

or 12 on the field......

[@CiaranMoore97]

Impressive turnaround between my comment and making the video! Thanks for the explanation ! It definitely helped my understanding of formations. But I do still think it's (unnecessarily) complicated seen as there's penaltys for that every game. Keep up the great work ! (And next time you read my username, I would love to see you have a crack at pronouncing the first part of my name)

[@notumbre]

i would argue that it’s a very simple rule - you have to have 7 people on the line of scrimmage, you can have more but only the guys on the outside are allowed eligible (in the nfl) - but strategies and playcalls attempt to push those rules to their absolute limits to confuse the heck out of defenses. sometimes, it works so well, that their own players get confused. this is purely anecdotal, but it seems like teams with lousy coaches or offenses get called for penalties like that way more often

[@Johnysimus]

It's really not that difficult and penalties for it definitely don't happen every game. More like one per round in the NFL. It's usually a receiver who lines up wrong and it's his fault.

[@codycampbell3562]

This was great information but I retained the information the first time you would say something and could easily rewind if I did not hear you, repeating yourself so many times made this gem of information take forever to appreciate.

[@TheQBSchool]

You got special skills.

[@nathanielsheehan5587]

8 minutes in, "scrimmage" and "eligible" stopped sounding like words. But I'm grateful for the explanation of what has been an opaque irritation for my 3 decades and change of watching football.

[@georgeenriquez9115]

Ok let’s please do a part 2 to this video and explain why these formations would work great for certain types of plays. :) Thanks JT

[@dandaniel439]

Please do a show on how plays are call in a hurry-up offense. How do the players know how to line up in the NEXT play? Are there 'code words' to put a play ON or OFF?

[@Eidenhoek]

OMAHA

[@fuckcensorship69]

Code words, wristbands, posters with pictures that match code words/play calls

[@mikeglennon8319]

How do coaches make up plays? All though football is copycat someone has to be that one to make plays. Does it go by scheme and personal or there's more to it?

[@stompingpeak2043]

They use specific route concepts, blocking schemes, coverages, and blitzes that give them the most success against the opposition. So a play can look similar to something you've seen before but the all the movement of the players is unique to the situation. This is how coaches tailor the base set to fit their roster and situation.

[@mikeglennon8319]

Stomping Peak i appreciate you !

[@d8l835]

@@stompingpeak2043 football is like a complex chess match. I love it. Good offenses can show you the same look on multiple plays. The route concepts will all be a little different but ran out of the same formation. Usually have plays that beat man/zone/certain defensive fronts/ press/ 2 deep/ 1 deep...and all of that depends on what kind of players you have and their strengths/weakness. With the infusion of the spread/college offenses over the last decade or so its been really fun seeing how it works against nfl defenses

[@stompingpeak2043]

@@d8l835 yeah that's pretty much exactly what I said lol

[@d8l835]

@@stompingpeak2043 lol i wasnt disagreeing with you. Not every reply to a comment is meant to start a fight haha

[@fang_shi_tong]

Very, very useful, and I appreciated every repetition. Thank you!

[@Magooinvesting]

I've been wondering about this for a while! Thanks JT

[@DnBBHox]

Anyone else here after Lions Cowboys?

[@stevenreichertart]

Fascinating discussion. Thank you for the thorough explanation.

[@nuwannilanka]

The best explanation I have ever heard.

[@flowingafterglow629]

Now, when I was in high school 40 years ago, we certainly had players with ineligible numbers who reported as eligible so they could play in the backfield (we ran a power-I and had a lineman in the second fullback position). Now, he wasn't on the end, so that may be the distinction, but he absolutely reported as eligible despite an ineligible number.

[@mastod0n1]

I played baseball but my high school wasn't exactly flush with cash to buy new jerseys so although I wanted to wear #5 they somehow did not have that jersey. It got lost somehow. So I bet with football they don't expect everyone to have eligible or ineligible numbers all the time.

[@nickdasher5501]

This is great, thanks. Could you also do a video about illegal motion/illegal shift?

[@PATexas]

I think can explain that, maybe I can do a video and post it as well. Ignoring the substitution rules, in college and the pros the motion rules are the same unless they have changed recently. The offense can line up and shift and move around all that you want to, usually behind the line of scrimmage as long as you once you are done you do not snap the ball for 1 second. Usually this movement is horizontal to the line of scrimmage or backwards because moving forward will trigger a false start of the play. Now once everything is set one person can move forward up to the line of scrimmage and or horizontally and remain in motion while the ball is snapped. If you break these rules then the shift is illegal. Usually this means that more than one person was in motion at the time of the snap, or the Center didnt wait one second to snap the ball.

[@michael_kuehl]

Yo jt awesome video. Can you do a video basically running through a quarterback’s presnap checklist and what goes into that? I think that would be a cool video.

[@alexm2930]

This is one of the most infrequent foul and yet if you understand the mechanism of the penalty you understand the mechanism of American Football. And by the way great great great video.

[@quantum_beeb]

Should show that Pats trick they pulled with that lineman eligable receiver like 8 years ago that blew everyone’s mind.

[@williamlemke4408]

Great Video!!! I have been watching the QB School for almost a year now, this one finally got me to subscribe to the channel. Tho you define the formations very well and clearly I think with coaches like Any Reid and others like him I'm still going to be watching football and going " UH Wait Whaaat !!!" LOL

[@TheQBSchool]

Nice. Appreciate the support.

[@MarkAndrewsOCFOA]

JT, really well done. One correction however. I know your focus is Pro and College, but you made the statement that there had to be 7 men on the line of scrimmage at all levels of football. That rule changed is 2019 under the NFHS (High School) rule book. The definition of a scrimmage formation 2-14-1 was changed to "A scrimmage formation requires a minimum of five A players legally on their line at the snap." In addition the rule that defines player formation and numbering 7-2-5a was changed to "At the snap, at least five A players shall be on their line of scrimmage and no more than four A players may be backs." This change was made primarily to not penalize the offense if they had less than 11 players on the field. The focus shifted from the requirement of 7 players on the line of scrimmage to no more than 4 players as backs.

[@andrewedwards8137]

Good to know this so I can call it out on defense

[@NolanHawkeyeAnthony]

As a football official this really helped me man

[@J-Burgerz]

2:45 Speaking of the MINIMUM required….”Fifteen is the minimum, okay? Look, we want you to express yourself, okay? Now if you feel that the bare minimum is enough, then okay. But some people choose to wear more and we encourage that, okay? You do want to express yourself, don't you?” -Stan, Chotchkie's Manager

[@eternalreign2313]

Personally I think they need to get rid of illegal formation and let the offenses get crazy. As long as everyone stays onside, who care where or how they lineup? As far as who is or isn't eligible, the number on their jersey lets you know. Then again, I think everyone should be eligible to catch a pass on every down, including the OL. How is it unfair if both teams get to do it? Football would be a lot more creative, and we would have fewer nonsense penalties slowing the game down. It's like they invent silly rules just so they have a reason to throw more flags.

[@blazeesq2000]

@user-zp1qp3b Man coverage.

[@coolbreeze2.0-mortemadfasc13]

lol Pure silliness. There would be no defense.

[@Penfold497]

Wait So how many players do you need on the line? And how many in the backfield?

[@asnik125]

Thank you so much for the very informative videos. I would like to know how important a difference of a day or a day and a half is for the team preparation? I ask because Green Bay was played on Saturday morning and Tampa on Sunday night, it's almost a 2 day difference to prepare for NFC final.

[@tkielion]

Here after Chiefs Vs Ravens 2024

[@Benotee]

Great stuff dude, can you also please talk about different offensive schemes and formations?

[@timothystamm3200]

I might have liked some pics of the Illinois Penn State game because Illinois was actually removing eligibles from the backfield and increasing the number of line men which is legal it just cuts the numberof receivers.

[@juliusharper6551]

Your hair is eligible no matter how many they have on the line. 😂 Your barber has to be an avenger.

[@Choplinn]

Please make a video breaking down the end of the Lions and Cowboys game 😢

[@tylerjensen9991]

This is a fantastic video, thank you.

[@nicholasmcclinton8214]

Possible Video idea for if you run out in the off-season that kinda pairs with this one in terms of creative use of formations would be Tackle Eligible Receptions and Touchdowns.

[@jerutley]

Early on, while you were talking about "Eligible numbers" - I think you misspoke (or maybe I mis-heard). You mentioned 0-49 and 80-99 - but it's only 80-89 that are eligible. 90-99 are not usable by the offense in the NFL - they are reserved for either DL or LB.

[@TheQBSchool]

If I did about NFL you’re right. College/HS they’re eligible.

[@fasillimerick7394]

I don't know if this is entirely relevant, but I recall a game where a player was in a 3/4 stance at the line, and somebody yells "Gronk! Stand up!".

[@andrewj3671]

Super informative video, love the channel! I dont know if this is your area of expertise, but could you do a video explaining the salary cap and how it is affected by trades and other roster moves?

[@TheQBSchool]

GM School?

[@robertbennett2586]

That was a good vid..Its all about the motion of the offence to keep it in check.

[@clintonrice525]

I liked the video; it’s interesting to consider the ways that offended align themselves just to complicate real-time analysis by the defense. However, one aspect I’m struggling to wrap my head around is the notion of a potential receiver lining up as an extra inside player on the line of scrimmage. I can see where that may create confusion in the defense, but I don’t see what it buys the offense: even if the same player lines up a yard back, he could still stay back, block and seemingly do anything an ineligible receiver can do, so why not do that and give him more latitude to improvise in case of a broken play?

[@michaelzoran]

Your video says it is not possible for an interior linemen wearing the number 50 to 79 to be reported as an eligible receiver at the level of high school football. However, that is actually not correct. I cannot speak for the other 49 states, but in the state of Michigan it is possible for an interior linemen to be reported as an eligible receiver. One play that is often used as a form of trick play is the "Tackle Eligible" play where a team will line up with an unbalanced line where the offensive tackle is actually the last man on the line of scrimmage - which makes him an eligible receiver if he is reported as an eligible receiver to the referees prior to the start of the play. The tight end that normally lines up outside the offensive tackle will line up on the other side of the line next to the other tight end; however, the interior tight end wearing an eligible number on that side is not an eligible receiver on that play, because he is on the offensive line.

[@ZebaitZ]

Super clear!

[@haydenhilgerdt]

Video idea: I think you could make a cool video on how the Packers offense is different compared to other Shanahan offenses.

[@kevintolonen8545]

Excellent video JT. I am seeing more and more in the NFL outside WR's covering up inside receivers who are also on the line of scrimmage running routes with no flags. Do you know the reason why the side judges are not calling this?

[@Acrosstheleague]

JT MY BOY YESSIRR

[@kevinburke8464]

A frustration of mine for many years is that I've NEVER identified an illegal formation when watching games. Hopefully this will help me finally call one out right before the snap, or me identifying a covered player who illegally goes downfield

[@TheQBSchool]

you will now. You can't unlearn this stuff. Guessing if you watch CFB you'll see it immediately for the covered up guys

[@scottr3062]

Good stuff and very helpful! I love football at all levels but was always a bit fuzzy on some of these nuanced rules!

[@7bittedie9]

great video - so I can enjoy the upcoming wildcard weekend much more^^

[@Mrhvac]

Very helpful. Thanks for doing your videos.

[@RollTerps]

I dunno, but the ravens sure as hell like using them like 2 times a game

[@AlexPetrulis]

I've never understood the difference between Encroachment, Neutral Zone Infraction, and Offsides.... might be a good topic!

[@rodrigocampo9014]

This is great, thanks for sharing....

[@reysteffani9619]

JT, I'm a bit confused on illegal blocks penalties. In the game between the Jets and Eagles, Jets (QB) Zach Wilson threw a check down pass to (RB) Breece Hall in which he ran down the side line. The Eagle's Safety was in coverage in the middle of the field and was running towards Hall to make the Tackle. The Jets (WR) Allen Lazard which was already down field on his route ran towards the Safety and made the block flush on his chest and the flag was thrown. It wasn't a blind side hit. There lies my confusion, how can it be illegal to block someone head on.

[@philr1924]

That was awesome! I never knew about these rules. Could the covered up player pull and take a handoff to the other side since all of the defence is on one side?

[@eternalreign2313]

They're really stretching the definition of what's considered the backfield. Some of those ineligible tackles are further back in the backfield than some of those eligible receivers.

[@regben2057]

Thanks a lot for this video! I learned a whole bunch. Never understood these rules before. I was just curious tho... does anyone know if there are any differences in the CFL?

[@dazsly]

Great explanation. I’m from the UK and still learning the rules etc. You should be working for the NFL with these videos! 👊

[@xcreenplay7264]

I actually never ask myself what is a illegal formation I glad this is out😂

[@andrewe.7907]

Great explanation. Thx!

[@S.Clause]

You really know your stuff.

[@garrettpelto3207]

great explanation JT. Great for all players and coaches to understand this. No matter what side of the ball. Question: can you pass to an illegible receiver IF it’s behind the line of scrimmage?

[@TheQBSchool]

if it's backwards

[@camd6394]

Hs rules need more regulation because my league requiring eligible receivers at the end had me believing you must have 4 behind the line (and thus always 5 eligible receivers) for all football.

[@Thetopplug]

Thanks for letting me know

[@wyomingptt]

He touched on this but if I'm not mistaken most of the "illegal formation" penalties (in the NFL at least) are the result of the Tackles not being _on the line of scrimmage_ right? To beat the edge rusher they usually 'cheat' back off the line a bit and the NFL made it a POI to start enforcing the more egregious cases a few years ago.

[@tastethejace]

Very informative video. Thank you

[@matthewsmith5225]

Hey JT, how do offenses in the NFL adjust mid play when the QB has to scramble? Is it a free for all where they just try to get open? Or do the WR/TE have planned routes depending on the direction the QB scrambles? Sometimes they seem planned out with the spacing, but other times they seem like a mess.

[@stephenbeck7222]

Depends on the original play call surely and the rapport between receiver and QB, but I think it’s mostly just finding open space on the field somewhere and generally go to the same side the QB is tracking.

[@Johnysimus]

There are rules, but from my understanding not all offenses have those rules or have the same rules. What the original play was also matters, as @Stephen Beck said. By my understanding the most typical one is, if you are deep, run deep, if you are short, run to the QB, if you are in the middle run to the sideline and then to the QB. Pretty much everyone but the deepest should run towards the QB to eliminate possible INTs. And again as Stephen said, they should run towards the side the QB is running towards, but if the QB is any good, he should be scrambling towards the side where he has receivers anyway, if he's running towards the side with no receivers he's usually not scramblin, he's running :) because if there were no receiveres, there will probably be no defenders either.

[@mattcody6536]

Love your content, keep it up

[@miguelcastillo9589]

It was the Patriots in that divisonal round.

[@darecoaster9086]

What is an illegal formation? Me as an intellectual: A formation that is illegal

[@TheQBSchool]

Super intellectual

[@beardedmurray]

What do you mean

[@beardedmurray]

What does everybodyMean

[@beardedmurray]

9

[@karlpetersen1760]

Good attempt, but missed an important point. When an eligible receiver is "covered up" by an outside receiver, the yellow laundry will come out at the snap in the NFL-- it's an illegal formation. You showed this but didn't mention it was illegal.

[@VinnyVarsity]

What app do you use to record the screen and draw on it?

[@zeep43]

Thanks for this! super helpful

[@imvaenuku]

In your opinion, why is it difficult for some college QB’s to successfully transition to the NFL, while a special few actually live up or exceed all expectations at the next level...?

[@robertbennett2586]

Most college QB,'s are runners.

[@rafaelmacedo826]

Can the coach, instead of using 5 linemen, use 4 linemen and make a Tight End ineligible? I don't know if it's a dumb question, 'cause the TE doesn't have an ineligible number, but if you place him on the line of scrimmage with a receiver also on the line of scrimmage outside of him, he basically acts like a Tackle and you have 5 ineligible players all the same.

[@TheQBSchool]

I think the patriots rule makes this illegal in league. Good question.

[@johnbrowntheprophet]

This is a great video. Thank you. 👍🏻

[@someguysomewhere6988]

You're welcome

[@dianayount2122]

now i understand Penei Sewell's "reporting in" before he received the pass in Sunday