What happens when a Tight End and Wing show up on the same side?
I call this “Tank”. You might have a different name for it.
Either way, two extra eligibles have presented themselves on the same side of the line.
How should we react defensively?
Characteristics of Tank
On the surface, this is similar to a Heavy (Double Tight End) look.
It has the same number of Run Gaps, and perhaps your opponent has the same types of tendencies out of both.
A couple things, however, separate Tank from a traditional Heavy formation.
The clear difference is that both of the extra eligibles are now on the same side.
Also, one of the extra eligibles is now a WING, which means they have the ability to Motion across the Formation. This can create some additional challenges for the defence.
Personnel
Clearly, the personnel your opponent is using for the Tank players will impact your defensive reaction.
If both Tank players are Offensive Lineman, this tells you something about what they’re trying to do. If they are Tight End or Fullback types, now they have a few more options.
Maybe one player is a Lineman and the other is a Receiver?
Any combination of skill sets could show up in the Tank. Analyzing your opponent’s personnel is a great place to start when formulating your plan.
Option #1: 50 Front
If you suspect your opponent is using Tank to run the ball, one option is getting to a 50 Front.
This is easier if your opponent is substituting personnel every time they go Tank. When you see their Tank personnel run onto the field, you can match this with an extra Defensive Lineman.
You will need to go back to your Bump/Tracking rules when deciding how to deal with a moving Wing versus the 50 Front.
If the Wing slices across the formation, you can either Track them with the Sam, or Bump all three Linebackers across.
Note: The Sam LB aligns with a little more depth when Tracking. This allows them to track without interfering with the other LBs.
You can set up your 50 Front any way you see fit. Here’s another example:
Option #2: Base 40
Your opponent, however, might be a little more dynamic out of the Tank.
Perhaps they use the Tank to run the ball at times, but also to provide Max Protection for their Quarterback in the passing game? Or maybe they go Tank without any substitutions and you don’t have the personnel indicator?
If this is the case, you might need to create a way to play Tank with your base defence.
If you are still committed to matching numbers in the run game, a Defensive Back will likely need to join the Box. In the picture below, based on the overall formation, the Field Half has now become a Force player in the run game.
Note: You still need to be ready to match a moving Wing. In the picture above the Sam could track the Wing if the Wing moves.
If you don’t like the “Bubble” over the Tank, you could always widen the End to be outside of the Tight End. If you do this, however, you may need to Push your Front to ensure the three-technique is to the Tank side.
With the look above, if the Wing moves across the Formation and you Bump/Track the Linebackers, the Field Half will now need to control the C Gap.
A final option would be to walk down your Sam. This eliminates the “Bubble”, but now your Field Half needs to adjust with the moving Wing.
Note: In the picture above, you are essentially getting back to a 50 Front concept, but using base personnel.
Further Considerations
As I began writing this article, I quickly realized that this would only be a drop in the bucket when it comes to defending Tank.
There is a lot at play here, and many further considerations are needed. A few quick points:
- Tank can show up in many different overall Formations. The Tank could be with the two field side eligibles in a 23 Front. The Tank could be part of an overall Quads Formation. The Formation in play might impact who is involved in your Tank adjustment.
- Coverage. Obviously you’ll need a coverage plan that fits into your Tank adjustment. Man to man could work, though you might not want your opponent to dictate what coverage you’re playing by simply going Tank. Can you fit your Tank adjustment into some of your base Coverages? Big question.
- How much time do you spend on this with the players? Another big question. Do you expect to see Tank once in the game? Twice? Do they use it every play? How dangerous is their Tank? These questions will help you decide how much emphasis you put on the Tank, and how many adjustments you make.
All the best,
Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
IG: @jonsvecx
Twitter: @jonsvecx
Jon Svec is the author of the e-book Canadian Football Chalk Talk: Defensive Basics.