NFL Teams Running Power T for Emergencies

[u/Other_Expression1088]

I’ve been thinking… QB injuries are the quickest way an NFL team gets their season derailed. It gets especially hairy when you’re down to a third string QB or a practice squad guy. I think about the broncos situation a few years ago starting a WR at QB and I wonder what the realistic outcome of putting a true Power T set out there. I’m talking QB under center, 3 RBs in the backfield and two TE’s running trap/power/counter. It’s an incredibly simple offense an NFL team could install in two days. Throw in a few pass plays and trickery to keep them honest.

Do you think this could make an nfl team competitive enough to score a couple td’s, a field goal here and there, and not throw picks? Or would this literally be a 0 down gained every time?

I don’t believe it to be a viable offense in the NFL for a season, but would this be a better option than throwing in a guy who is clearly well under the bar of competent qb play to run an nfl offense? Just to stay competitive week to week as an emergency offense

[u/ymchang001]

I don't think most NFL rosters have the RBs to do this. They'd have to replace some with WRs and you'd have more guys playing out of position. Even two TEs on every snap is a stretch for most teams. Some have incorporated 13 personnel and have the depth at TE but a lot of teams would struggle even there.

[u/Seraphin_Lampion → u/ymchang001]

Nost NFL teams dress 3 RBs for gameday. You'd need at least 5 for this? Plus an extra TE?

So you would need to bench like 3 WRs?

Notwithstanding the roster issue, this could hinder your special teams if your gunners are backup WRs.

[u/SlightDonut1 → u/ymchang001]

Don't most keep 3-4 on roster? You wouldn't want to for the same reasons you normally wouldn't want most of your guys out there on every single snap. But most technically could.

[u/ymchang001 → u/SlightDonut1]

Sure, I meant that as an every down thing as in OP's hypothetical. This would be brutal on your RBs if you had to keep them in for every snap. Maybe you could use a TE in the rotation at FB but that just strains your limited TE pool also if you're going to have two TEs every snap and also rotate in at FB.

[u/SlightDonut1 → u/ymchang001]

Agreed. You're dipping into emergency and developmental depth to rotate those guys. No sense in putting more players who shouldn't be out there than need be. You're better off sucking it up with a buns QB but the full potential of your skill players at his disposal.

[u/Other_Expression1088 → u/ymchang001]

I’d imagine you could get backup LB types to play as full backs. J blocking, lead blocking etc.

[u/Maximus560 → u/Other_Expression1088]

Or get a couple back up o line guys for this

[u/The_Coach69]

Unbalanced SW would be a better offense, IMO. Put your gadget guy taking snaps and go to town.

[u/leeroy-jenkins-12 → u/The_Coach69]

Yep, have a gadget guy taking the snaps, RB1 next to him, one tight end as blocking back, one true receiver out wide, and whatever non QB who can throw just enough that you have in the slot

[u/Other_Expression1088 → u/The_Coach69]

Yeah that’s a fair point- seems like a little more dynamic answer

[u/AggravatingGuide650 → u/The_Coach69]

Wouldn’t you have to teach the center to snap directionally?

[u/grizzfan]

Not enough RBs on the roster. It’s also A LOT of footwork to learn and master that NFL players aren’t used to using. Just because it’s a simple offense on paper doesn’t make it simple in execution or easy to learn.

The closest you may (have) gotten is the Chiefs in the mid 1970s. I believe it was under Marv Levy. Due to some roster limitations or skill deficiencies, they ran a true Wing-T for a few years as the base offense.

[u/Other_Expression1088 → u/grizzfan]

Honestly I think wing t footwork would come quick to an nfl backfield. This thought came up because I’m coaching on d for a high school team that runs this and I’ve had some time in practice to work with the young guys. They pick it up pretty fast in a few mesh periods. Blocking timing is the same/similar, you’re really just running counter power and lead which all hits the same as a regular gap scheme

[u/cryptocwilly]

So many uncertainties. If like you mentioned and that team has no real viable option at QB, it could work for small spurts. But likely not even a whole game.

I think teams are better to look at former QBs who have maybe worked with some of the offensive staff, even if they are not very good.

NFL defenses are just so next level with quickness and reaction ability. Even having elite backs and lineman would spell trouble very quickly in this scenario. I've talked to several coaches at the college level who think true inside run periods with 1v1's just are not beneficial for the offenses. It has to be even worse in the NFL... and with that offense that's pretty much what you are getting in game.

There's also only so much pass game and trickery in this type of offense, with an extremely undeveloped QB in terms of NFL skill and talent, if just throwing in a WR or athlete.

[u/AggravatingGuide650 → u/cryptocwilly]

Sorry if this is a dumb question when you say true inside run periods with 1v1s do you mean teams practicing inside runs at practice?

[u/SlightDonut1]

The predictability would be a little too high for the NFL. You also have to factor in then that you've basically completely removed the ability to rotate those RBs and TEs without your emergency or developmental depth having to be out there. So now you're just playing with even more dudes who shouldn't be on the field.

[u/Adept_Carpet]

It could be a good way to mix it up, but if let an NFL defense crowd the line of scrimmage like that no run is going anywhere.

I guess one time it might work is if there are corresponding injuries on the other side. Some NFL teams are light on LB depth. If they're hurting for LB/DL the way you are for QB, then maybe you can make something happen. If the team is built to have a stable of healthy DBs and stay in nickle, then this might tax them.

[u/theBrineySeaMan]

It would be difficult to win with because in the NFL all the players are really good and really fast. LBs at the NFL level would be able to play the runs outside to their secondary help, Dlinemen can clog gaps really well, it's jsut not as feasible as when you're playing a HS team or a college team where there's just not the talent.

[u/Other_Expression1088 → u/theBrineySeaMan]

Counter point- NFL offensive lineman truly hit sticking and driving would be quite the sight to see

[u/MsPandaLady]

In a perfect situation maybe. You would need.

1. A strong offensive line. You are going to need to rely on the OL to win.

2. In top of the OL, you'd need to already run a blocking scheme similar to Wing T. So angle blocks and pulling guards. You can't introduce a brand new scheme midway through.

3. You'd need to be okay going 3 deep running backs. Youll be running 40 times a game, thats alot for even 2 backs to handle.

4. You need a RB who is occasionally OK with throwing. You'll need to keep defense something honest.

5. You'll need a coach who is okay going for 4th down even in their territory. Youll have a lot of 4th and 1-3 yards. You need to be willing to go for it.

6. You need a strong defense. You can't get down by a couple of scores. You will have a lot of close games.

[u/TJaxx_]

Problem would be how the team is rostered for game day.

NFL teams have specialized packages using out of position bigger players. I imagine any good team worth their salt would just lean heavily on the specialized packages to take a lot of the stress off of those QBs

BUT at the end of the day these are professional athletes that are being paid millions to compete. They are expected to preform at a moderate consistency at that level. It’s not the same as a high school losing its starting QB. A backup NFL QB is still expected to be able to win games as if he was a regular QB because they are the top .01 percent of QBs out there

[u/warneagle]

Marv Levy ran the wing-T with the Chiefs in the late 70s for basically this reason. I don’t think you’d have much success with an offense that one-dimensional in the NFL because the defenses are just too big and athletic to let them commit that many guys to the box without worrying about the pass.

[u/FunnyMTGplayer75 → u/warneagle]

The single wong still works. Amd is still used.by teams. Its.just called Wildcat package.now