Block Kick, 0-10 {BH} - This is more of a 'watch fake' than a block kick, but it serves the purpose of protecting against possible fakes in the area of the field that is listed in its name, between the goaline and the ten yard line.
Block Kick, 10-20 {BH} - This is more of a 'watch fake' than a block kick, but it serves the purpose of protecting against possible fakes in the area of the field that is listed in its name, between the ten and the twenty yard line.
Block Kick, 20-40 {BH} - This is more of a 'watch fake' than a block kick, but it serves the purpose of protecting against possible fakes in the area of the field that is listed in its name, between the twenty and the forty yard line.
Kick Return, Onsides {MWH} - To stop my own middle-bounce-onsides, I moved the kick returner up closer to the tee, but still far enough away to catch the ball in the end zone for a touchback. The other players guard for the sideline-onsides kick, but instead of using 'Get Open' catch symbols, they pause and then block the scrambling kicking squad away from the ball. This often results in the ball going out of bounds in very good field position for the kick returners, at least the thirty-five yard line.
Kick Return, Sideline {MWH} - This sideline kick return makes a good kick-off return that is tough to stop, since the returner often runs crossways to a spot underneath the blockers, who then proceed to plow upfield. This play certainly makes it possible to return a kick for a touchdown against a slow or poorly organized kicking team.
Punt Return, 1-10 {BH} - When the offense needs between one and ten yards for a first down, this is the punt return to use as it focuses on a possible fake in this area.
Punt Return, 10+ {BH} - When the offense needs more than ten yards for a first down, this is the punt return to use as it focuses more on the return, than the possibility of a fake.
{3-4 Pro Set Formation/ICK} - The 3-4 defense is the most important defensive change in the past two decades. It can be traced back to the University of Oklahoma in 1947, and it is also an offspring of the 5-2 Eagle defense of the 1940's and 1950's. The difference between the 3-4 and the 5-2 is that in the 3-4 the ends have become standup linebackers so they can cover passes. The 3-4 defense is now used by all but a couple of teams. In the 3-4, three linemen rush the passer, and a linebacker is kept in reserve as a potential designated blitzer, like Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants. The trick with this outside linebacker is to keep the offense guessing. On running plays, the defensive linemen try to tie up as many offensive linemen as they can so the linebackers can make the tackles. The fourth linebacker provides more flexibility near the line of scrimmage than a fourth linemen in that the 3-4 allows greater potential for stopping the run and gives better pass coverage. Any one of the four linebackers can blitz. But, on the negative side, the 3-4 mounts less consistent pressure on the quarterback.
{3-Nickel Formation/MWH} - A 3-2-6 defense with the defensive backs positioned for optimal pass coverage.
{34 Formation/DCA} - This is the Gunslingers version of the classic formation, with some modifications to suit the 3-5 that I generally run out of.
{35 Flex Formation/DCA} - This is the Gunslingers version of the classic formation. This served as my basic defense in the AOFL Season6 Sooper Bowl. This formation is particularly suited to defending against the short pass, and the quick sweeps.
{35 Formation/DCA} - This is the Gunslingers version of the classic formation. Using five linebackers to dominate the short area from the line of scrimmage to about eight yards deep.
{4-3 Over Formation/ICK} - Defenses often try to put more defensive linemen near the expected point of attack. So, in an over defense, all four members of the defensive front shift one position over toward the strongside of the offensive formation.
{4-3 Pro Set Formation/MWH} - A variation of the standard 4-3 defense. The outside linebackers are split out farther and back a little more than usual.
{4-3 Stunt Formation/ICK} - Pittsburgh would put tackle Mean Joe Greene at a forty-five degree angle in the gap between a guard and center, and put middle linebacker Jack Lambert behind Greene. This helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win four Super Bowls in the 1970's. Of course, it also helps if both players are future Hall of Famers or 500 pointers.
{4-3 Under Formation/ICK} - In the same way that the 4-3 Over Formation has an 'over' shift, an under shift is exactly the opposite, because the defensive line shifts away from the strongside and to the weakside of the offensive formation.
{4-4 Stack Formation/MWH} - This is a 'Pancake' stack play. Four linebackers line up right behind four down linemen. The linemen penetrate, the linebackers aggravate, or visa versa. Extremely useful against the run.
{43 Formation/DCA} - This is the Gunslingers version of the classic formation, with some modifications to suit the 3-5 that I generally run out of.
{5-3 Formation/ICK} - Reducing the number of players on the defensive line to five, which put more players back into pass protection, was a bold move. It was first used by the New York Giants in 1934 and became the standard pro defense for a decade. Now it has been resurrected for PlayMaker Football as a really good goaline or short yardage formation to build a defense upon.
{53 Formation/DCA} - This is the Gunslingers version of the classic formation, with some modifications to suit the 3-5 that I generally run out of.
{7-2 Barn Door Formation/ICK} - Not for the faint of heart. This formation puts seven men on the line of scrimmage, ready to rock and roll. The two safeties are about ten yards deep over the middle and the two cornerbacks are about five yards deep. A nasty defensive formation, well suited for goaline, short yardage and blitzing situations.
{Eagle Formation/ICK} - The Eagle defense was devised by Philadelphia Eagles coach Earler 'Greasy' Neale in the 1940's to stop the T-formation. He set the defense in a 5-2-4, putting the linebackers a step or two off the line of scrimmage. The outside linebackers did not have to cover deep passes, but did delay receivers and cover short passes. This was the first four-player secondary, and there was no middle linebacker. The Eagles won NFL championships in 1948 and 1949 using this defense.
{Oklahoma Formation/ICK} - Begun at the University of Oklahoma by the legendary Bud Wilinson about 1947, the Oklahoma defense soon became the dominant defense in college football and strongly influenced pro defenses, but was mostly scoffed at until the Miami Dolphins adopted it in 1972, went undefeated, and won the Super Bowl. Look closely, and you will see that the Oklahoma defense looks a lot like today's 3-4 defense.
{Umbrella Formation/ICK} - The umbrella was designed to stop fast receivers from coming out of the backfield. New York Giants coach Steve Owen and his defensive captain, Tom Landry, devised the umbrella defense in 1950. The defensive backs were arranged in an umbrella-like shape with the defensive ends {in PlayMaker, linebackers} either rushing or dropping off the line to cover passes like later outside linebackers. This is another real good run defense.
Portions of the above text come from The Official Pro Football Hall of Fame Playbook, by Rick Korch, published by Simon & Schuster Inc.
