The concept of positioning formations into the boundary has been around for decades. However, Ferris State has masterfully utilized this strategy to create a dynamic and explosive run game, playing a significant role in their recent Division 2 National Championship victory.
Ferris State boasts one of the most innovative and thrilling offenses in college football, largely thanks to Coach Sam Parker, the offensive line coach and run game coordinator. He has developed an insightful 6-part series detailing their unique spread offensive scheme.
Discover More About the Ferris State Offense Here
Ferris State’s coaching staff prefers boundary formations because they typically limit defensive responses. Most defenses have a limited set of adjustments for boundary formations, as these plays are relatively rare and often underprepared for by defensive coordinators.
Offensive coaches at Ferris State exploit this by identifying the defense’s typical adjustments to boundary plays and crafting strategies to counteract them effectively.
According to Coach Parker, it’s crucial to exploit unconventional situations or formations. Many teams might only have one adjustment for empty, unbalanced, condensed formations, or formations into the boundary.
Motion to Formation Into Boundary – Bunch Formation
In the first example, Ferris State combines a condensed formation with a boundary formation to enhance their triple-option play off the inside zone blocking scheme.
Starting in a condensed formation, a man goes in motion to create a boundary bunch right before the snap. This motion prompts the secondary to shift into an 8-man box, presenting a 4-4 defensive look and transforming the coverage to a form of Cover 3, known as 3 Fox.
Initially, this setup appears disadvantageous for the offense, especially when running a zone read to the boundary, where the defense seems to outnumber them. With four defenders as immediate threats between the hash and the numbers and more nearby, the defense seems poised to dominate at the point of attack.
However, by moving into a boundary bunch set, the offense gains a 5-on-4 advantage, with each defender either blocked or read. As the quarterback executes the mesh, the unblocked defensive end takes the dive away, prompting the quarterback to keep the ball.
When defenders converge on the quarterback between the hash and numbers, he quickly passes to the “pitch” option to the boundary. The offense effectively pins the defense in the alley, out-leveraging them for a 15-yard gain.
Key to this play is the offensive line’s ability to create space for the read. By clearing the nose off the hash, the guard forces the unblocked end to cover more ground, simplifying the quarterback’s read. This adjustment forces the linebacker to defend the quarterback in open space, providing greater opportunities for the slot receiver on the third option to gain yards.
Formation Into Boundary – Trips Zone Read Triple Option
Ferris State’s ability to manipulate defenses with formations and personnel is a cornerstone of their successful run game. Incorporating boundary formations adds depth to their strategy.
In this example, the offense starts with a trips set aligned to the short side. The H-Back, actually a slot receiver, motions to the field, transitioning the offense into a triple-option play.
Defending Ferris State requires understanding their tendencies. From game film, one might expect a power read to the boundary or a split zone scheme with the slot receiver blocking across the formation.
However, after the motion, Ferris State runs a zone read triple option, presenting multiple threats to the defense within seconds. The defense must adjust to the new formation strength as the slot receiver’s motion alters the pass strength.
The quarterback first reads the defensive end and keeps the ball if necessary. He then eyes the alley defender, typically a near safety. Ideally, he should challenge the safety more before pitching, but with ample space, he opts for a quick pitch to gain significant yardage. This play results in a solid six-yard gain.
Ferris State’s strategic use of boundary formations and their ability to adapt on the fly make their run game exceptionally effective and challenging for defenses to counter.
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