Cleveland Browns to use All-11 concepts in 2016
By Joel W. Cade
All-11 in Hue Jackson’s offense
The Cleveland Browns will be incorporating All-11 formations in their offense this season under Hue Jackson.
Thus far, Jackson has only used the threefold formation. He will line up tackles in the “red” and “blue” zones leaving three linemen in the “white” zone. From there the offense has three different plays it can run depending on the numbers that defense decides to put in each zone.
John Gruden’s description of the “Star Wars” formation is actually a basic All-11 balanced formation.
Here we see a play ran into the “red” zone. Two offensive tackles lined up as ineligible players on the line of scrimmage with tight end Tyler Eifert as the eligible last man on the line of scrimmage. Behind the three players on the line of scrimmage is receiver Marvin Jones. Seeing the numbers advantage, Andy Dalton throws the screen to Jones in the “red” zone.
If the numbers were better in the “white” zone, Dalton could have handed the ball off or ran the read option. If the numbers were better in the “blue” zone, Dalton could have thrown wide receiver screen. Either way, the offense can catch a defense off guard by lining up in three zones and seeking a numbers advantage.
Jackson has yet, to my knowledge, to use the All-11 formation to involve ineligible players in a capacity other than blocking. Although I would expect to see this occur in the near future. Terrelle Pryor’s skill set raises some interesting possibilities when it comes to uses of ineligible players out of this formation.
If the past is an indicator of the future, the Browns will employ All-11 formations consistent with Hue Jackson’s usage in Cincinnati. If nothing changes, one can expect to see Joe Thomas line up outside the hash mark in a “red” or “blue” zone. Sadly, he may only be there to block. But what if Thomas were to step back, catch a backwards pass then rumble into the end zone for a touchdown? Then the All-11 would start to get exciting in the NFL.