How I Gameplan Playcall Sequences, Pt. 3
We've discussed planning individual sequences. Now how do we integrate multiple sequences within a gameplan?
For the past two weeks, we’ve been digging into my approach to sequenced playcalling. Here’s a quick refresher of what that includes:
Formation to unlock the base play
Multiple ways to motion into that formation
Counters off the base play and its motions
Anticipating the defense’s most likely front adjustment
A built-in blitz answer
But here’s the thing — that’s just one sequence. And if we’re assuming relatively equal talent on both sidelines, one sequence isn’t going to cut it. So how do we tie multiple sequences together? When does each one get called?
This brings us back to a point I made during our spring install series: formations aren’t as cheap as social media makes them out to be. At the very least, I want a core group of formations that I can easily motion between — and I start with how I expect the defense to align to them.
Here’s what I’m looking for in my base formations:
Players are placed in positions to succeed based on their skill sets
The defense is regulated — I shouldn’t have to worry about exotic alignments
My core run schemes can be successful if executed properly
Every week is going to include 4 base formations using my top personnel grouping. Ideally, these formations are set pretty well in stone in spring, but injuries and player development throughout the summer can be large factors in maintaining the same core formations by the time the season comes around. I generally want each of these four within a single gameplan:
2x2 – X & F on one side, Y & Z on the other
3x1 – X as the solo WR
1x3 – Y as the solo WR (nub TE)
2x2 Switch – X & Z on one side, Y & F on the other
Some of these may be condensed, extended, or both (e.g. one side condensed, one extended), but these four structures form the backbone of our offense.
With my wristband system, I can carry nine formations into a game. That leaves me five formations open to this point.
Here’s how I usually round that out:
A pass-first formation for 3rd & long or obvious passing situations. My favorite is a McVay staple: Trips Nub with the HB as a wing opposite the Y. This creates a Quads look with a double-chip in pass pro.
The I Formation, mostly used for under-center situations like short yardage and goal line.
That leaves me with about three formations to truly play with each week. These could be used to:
Jump into another personnel grouping
Exploit a formation that’s been consistently misaligned on film
Or left blank entirely if I don’t think they’ll bring enough value to justify repping them
The Play Count
Again, with my wristband system, I carry 24 plays per formation — 12 run, 12 pass (Play-action, screens, etc. all fall in the pass column). Within that constraint, I can fit about three run series’ per formation, and I still reserve slots to motion into plays from other formations.
Here’s the breakdown I usually follow:
Strong-side run series
Weak-side run series
Motion-based run series (e.g. Jet Sweep)
Important note: A play doesn’t have to be run to the strong side just because it’s part of the strong-side series. It’s about where the base play hits.
For example:
I love strong-side Wide Zone, and I love building off of it with weak-side Counter looks. That might be Bash Counter, or something from Pistol where the RB starts strong but breaks weak after the handoff.
If my weak-side series is Power Read, I’ll often pair that with GT Counter in the opposite direction.
What this framework gives me is the ability to:
Read space within a formation
Have a specific answer for how to attack that space
Use motion to recreate those looks — and/or steal defenders’ eyes away from where the ball’s actually going
It’s not about having more. It’s about finding the line between having enough scheme to feel confident that we can answer any problem a defense presents to us without having so much that we can’t be successful at it.
If you want a pre-season audit of where you are on that spectrum, consider signing up for the Wide Zone Warriors Pre-Season Playbook Challenge.
By the end of the challenge, you’ll walk away with:
A focused, efficient install plan you believe in
A leaner playbook that fits your team and your philosophy
And a much clearer sense of what belongs in your offense — and why
If you want to feel more confident heading into fall camp — with less clutter, more clarity, and a plan you can trust — this is the challenge for you, regardless of what type of offense you run.
If you are interested in joining, be sure to fill out this form to get on the wait list for more information! If you already signed up last week, it is not necessary to fill it out again. Be on the lookout for more information soon!
PS - I thought this was going to be a 3 part series. I decided to add one final article in the series next week focusing on how I call the game and bounce between the series’ we’ve been discussing. Stay tuned!