Jackets Offense Productive In The I Formation, September 28, 2011

( JOSHUA C. CRUEY, ORLANDO SENTINEL / September 23, 2011 )

Leesburg's Manny Nelson runs the ball for yardage during second quarter action of a high school football game against East Ridge in Clermont, Fla. on Friday, September 23, 2011.

By Gerald Lacey

Staff Writer

Carver Heights Quarterback Club

September 28, 2011

LEESBURG - Leesburg Head Coach Randy Trivers high octane offense was ran out of the Spread Formation last year. The offense averaged 34.8 points per game last year and produce the best the passing numbers in 41 years. This year Trivers has installed the I Formation into his offense. Despite Yellow Jackets going to the ground game more than last season the offense is averaging 29.2 points a game. Trivers believes his offense in being able to adapt to what the defense is showing him week to week. He has built his offense around the players that he has.

"I think you always want to be able to utilize the talent you have and the weaponry you have," said Trivers in a recent pregame interview. "I've always been a believer of having the ability to be multiple offensively." 

"I think what we are doing with the people that we have is giving us a opportunity to utilize all our players in a effective way and in a effective manner."

A diagram of a basic I Formation that Leesburg Head Coach Randy Trivers has installed into the Jackets offense. After 4 games the Jackets are averaging 29.8 points a game.

What is the I formation? This is one of the most common formations used at all levels of football. Tom Nugent, the football coach at Virginia Military Institute, had a new idea. Instead of having halfbacks on each side of the fullback, he thought it made more sense to line up the halfbacks behind the fullback. With the offensive backfield in a straight line, they looked more like an 'I' than a 'T', and a new formation was named.

In the I formation, the tailback starts six to eight yards behind the scrimmage from an upright position, where he can survey the defense. The formation gives the tailback more opportunities for finding weak points in the defense to run into.

After five years at VMI, Nugent brought the I to Florida State in 1954, and it began to spread, most notably to John McKay, who used the formation to win the national championship at USC in 1962. Before long, NFL teams took notice, and the I became the most common set in pro football.

( JOSHUA C. CRUEY, ORLANDO SENTINEL / September 23, 2011 )

Leesburg's Jalen Dozier runs the ball for yardage during second quarter action of a high school football game against East Ridge in Clermont, Fla. on Friday, September 23, 2011.

Coaches who frequently run the I-formation often extol its virtues with statements like, "We just want to line up and come right at 'em." But there's nothing inherently tougher about the I than there is about any other formation. What set the I apart from the T and many of the other formations of the early days of football is that it lent itself to a versatile offensive attack. That versatility is still valuable in the modern game. 

Trivers is known for his offensive innovation, going deep into his 1000 play playbook to set up mismatches in opposing defenses. He uses different packages within the I using 2, 3 and 4 wide receiver sets. Sometimes the Jackets will go with a jumbo package with double tight end sets using Under Armour All-American Noor Davis and Jordan Tucker as the tight ends. They will also use triple wide receivers on the left or right of the formation leaving one wide receiver split out wide on the opposite side of the 3 wide receivers.

"We also like to attack to be able to take advantage of what a defense gives us," Trivers said. "We are able to find weakness and some of that is through different ways in the passing game."

The running threat posed by the formation also lends itself to the play-action pass. The flexible nature of the formation also helps prevent defenses from focusing their attention on either the run or pass.

"There are just different things that with what we are doing offensively, that allow us a little more flexibility and versatility with our talent." So as long as we are moving the ball and scoring points that's the most important thing."

#27 Junior I Back Anthony Miller carries the ball against Clermont East Ridge. (PHOTO BY ASHLEY BEYER/September 23, 2011)

Using the I formation has allowed Leesburg to establish the run early in the season. It has opened up the play action passing game. Last years offense threw the ball over 80% of the time. This year they have ran the football more, in the Mount Dora game the Jackets only attempted one pass in the second half. The I Formation has produced some great rushing numbers and a 3-1 record this season. Senior I Back Emmanuel Nelson went into the Clermont East Ridge game with 3 straight 100 yard games averaging 7.7 yards per carry.

Despite the emphasis on the running game, the I formation remains an effective base for a passing attack. The formation supports up to three wide receivers and many running backs serve as an additional receiving threat. Trivers opened up the offense on Friday night attempting 28 passes. The Jackets had only 25 pass attempts in the first three games of the 2011 season.

"If we have to throw it 30 times than that's what we will do," said Trivers on the Jackets weekly game plan. "If we have to throw it 3 times than thats what we will do."

Leesburg Head Coach Randy Trivers gives instructions to his team during the Leesburg at Mount Dora Game (PHOTO BY ASHLEY BEYER/September 16, 2011)

The fullback typically fills a blocking, rather than rushing or receiving, role in the modern game. With the fullback in the backfield as a blocker, runs can be made to either side of the line with his additional blocking support. While the fullback is rarely a pass receiver, he serves as a capable additional pass blocker protecting the quarterback before the pass.

Senior fullback Flint Hicks has done a outstanding job in the blocking department. His blocking skills have made the run game go, he has been slowed by injuries but his impact on the running game has not gone unnoticed. The fullback can also be used as a feint—since the defense can spot him more easily than the running back, they may be drawn in his direction while the running back takes the ball the opposite way.





Whether it is the ground game or the passing game the Jackets have been productive on offense during Trivers tenure. With D'Mauri Jones healthy look for the Yellow Jackets scoring average to increase. Jones gives Leesburg the big threat that they have missed all year long.

Give Trivers credit for bringing outside linebackers Noor Davis and Jordan Tucker to the offensive side of the football. Davis and Tucker are a part of the Jackets jumbo package in the I formation and single back sets. With Davis missing Friday night the offense didn't have the big tight end to get the ball down the middle of the field in passing situations.

The Jackets will continue to go to the run game as the season progresses. If Leesburg stays is healthy the run game will be vital to any hopes of postseason play in 2011.

"I think on any level regardless of the style of offense you have to be able to run the ball effectively to win consistently," said Trivers on the team success on the ground. "I'm a believer in that so we been able to do a little bit of that thus far."

Resources

Photos by:
Ashley Beyer
Freelance Photographer 
2001 Graduate of Leesburg High School

Ashley Beyer is a freelance photographer who will be working with the Carver Heights Quarterback Club this season. She started photographing as a hobby when she was 13 with a manual SLR Canon film camera. In 1998 she received her first automatic Canon SLR camera. In the begining as a hobby photographer her cousins and friends babies were her favorite subjects. Now, she is getting the chance to share her Leesburg High School football pictures with many people through Facebook and the Leesburg Yellow Jackets Football blog.

"It makes me happy to do that because I know there are families out there that would love to have pictures of their boys playing football and can't get to the games or don't have the means to record those memories."

Article written by:

Gerald Lacey

Staff Writer

Carver Heights Quarterback Club

www.leesburgyellowjacketsfootball.com

Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.

Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.