The large width of the Canadian football field creates more than just an anecdotal difference between Canadian and U.S. ball. The extra space creates tangible opportunities and challenges when it comes to Canadian football schemes. One area where these opportunities and challenges come to light is the 2×3 (Joker) Formation.
What is Joker?
We use this name to refer to a formation where the Offence has two Receivers to the Field Side, and three Receivers to the Boundary Side. Now the Defence has some decisions to make. How will the Defence adjust to the extra Receiver into the Boundary? How will the Defence handle the two Receivers to the Field who have ALL THAT SPACE? Can the Defence do both while still remaining sound in the Box?
Adding a Boundary Defender
There are a number of different ways that the Defence can add an extra Defender to the Boundary Side in order to match numbers.
Run the Sam over
One simple way to match numbers into the Boundary is to run the Sam Linebacker over the the three-Receiver Side. This is beneficial if your Sam is more of a Defensive Back, as they are able to remain outside of the Box and in Coverage.
Coaching Point: If you look carefully at the clip above, you can see the Mike Linebacker slightly WIDEN to the Field Side in order to create an extra presence to the Field.
Bump the Linebackers
Another option is to Bump all three Linebackers over to the Boundary. This requires less overall movement by each individual defender. The obvious difference here is that now the Sam Linebacker must play in the Box. This is a great adjustment to use if your Will and Sam are interchangeable with their skill sets.
Roll the Free Safety
A third option for matching numbers into the Boundary would be to Roll your Free Safety down to the Boundary Side, and Roll your Sam Linebacker high. Again this will depend on the skill sets of your players at these positions to decide if this is right for your Defence.
Coaching Point: Just like in the first clip, the Mike Linebacker slightly WIDENS to the Field Side in this clip.
Keep “Three over Two” to the Field
There are options out there for keeping three Defenders to the Field Side. You might want to look into these if you need ways to handle the extra SPACE that these two Field Receivers have to work with. The obvious tradeoff is that you will need to lighten yourself up somewhere else — either the Boundary Side or the Box.
Spurs
One option for this is to create two “Spurs”. These are Defenders who hang just outside the Box. This can help you deal with the extra space to the Field, but you are now lighter in the Box.
Free Safety to the Field
Depending on your structure and the types of Coverages you use, you could also dedicate your Free Safety to the Field Side in order to keep a true “Three over Two”.
Further Considerations
There are a number of other topics that need to be considered when it comes to aligning versus Joker:
- How will you adjust your Coverages to match your Joker alignments?
- How does your adjustment work when it comes to the Offence MOTIONING into Joker? Or MOTIONING OUT of Joker?
- How does your Joker alignment work with your RUN FITS?
- Will you dedicate yourself to ONE Joker alignment adjustment, or try to have MULTIPLE options within your Defence?
Once again, thanks for reading. How do you adjust to Joker? I would love to hear from you in the comments.
All the best,
Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
IG: @jonsvecx
Twitter: @jonsvecx