Reasons Why 22 Personnel is Great for Youth Football
The 22 personnel formation in football features 2 running backs, 2 tight ends, and 1 wide receiver. This formation is great because it features utilizes double Tight-ends, which forces the defense to defend both sides of the formation. The two Tight-ends are posse receiving threats for the defense as well. The two backs in the backfield will give you a combination of power and deception. If you have a great wide receiver you can utilize him to stress the defense as well. Below are the reasons why 22 Personnel is great for youth football.
Reasons why 22 Personnel is Great for Youth Football:
Power Running Game
▪️With two tight ends and a fullback, you create extra blocker at the point of attack. When you put a Tight-end to each side, you give the defense two run strengths.
▪️Ideal for inside zone, power, counter, and iso plays. When you have a 3-man surface you have several blocking / run scheme options. If you have a mobile QB there are several plays that can be utilized.
▪️Forces the defense to stack the box and play physical. If the defense doesn’t load up the box- they’re going to get gutted. Even if they do, 22 Personnel is a personnel grouping that is tough to stop.
Play-Action Threat
▪️Defenses sell out to stop the run, opening up big play-action opportunities. If you have one or more good Tight-ends this formation is for you! Many times the defense will sell out to stop the run / blitz and they won’t account for the Tight-ends.
▪️TEs and FBs often get lost in coverage as well, making them great targets off play-action.
▪️Call a play-action pass play on a run down and distance and watch it score! Then once you beat them with the play-action passing plays, you then get back to gutting them with the run.
22 Personnel Offense Playbook Click / Tap the Banner Below to Download or Learn More:
What’s inside the 22 Personnel Playbook:
Install: Formation overview, blocking scheme, snap count, and player placement.
Run Plays: Power, B-gap Power, Buck Sweep, Buck (off-tackle), Iso, Wham, Counter, H-Power, H-Buck, QB Iso, QB Lead Sweep, and QB Wham.
Pass Plays: Post-Wheel, Smash, Quick-out, TE Over (half rollout), Snag, TE Quick Pop / 3-Verticals, Slant-Arrow,
Split-end Route System: Fade, Slant, Quick-Out, and Out & Up (one word calls).
Download: 22 Personnel Formation Playbook
Versatility & Misdirection
▪️You can run or pass effectively without changing personnel. There are several receiving threats and running threats out of this formation. It give you a great combinate of compressed and some spread offense elements.
▪️TE or H motion creates leverage mismatches and confuses defenses pre-snap. You can flip the backfield strength by utilizing motion from any of your backs. Plays like Jet Sweep can be utilized as well.
▪️Great for running misdirection plays like counter or waggle. QB runs out of this formation are lights out as well.
Control the Tempo & Physicality
▪️Dictates a physical, grind-it-out tempo that can wear down a defense. It also has big play potential because many times the defense doesn’t align properly.
▪️Useful for controlling clock and keeping your defense rested.
Forces Defensive Adjustments
▪️Forces teams to bring in bigger personnel or make awkward substitutions.
▪️Creates mismatches against lighter, speed-focused defenses.
▪️Many times teams will favor the TE side with the H-back (makes senses, that’s where the run strength is) however, they will leave themselves vulnerable to a run opposite of the strength.
Flexibility with the Formation
▪️You can move your WR (who is off the line of scrimmage) around. You can also move your H-back and/or Tailback around as well. If you have a mobile QB you can install lead, power, read, and counter runs to him.
▪️If you have a talented Wide Receiver- you can move him around and utilize him in the passing game. You can put him out wide and isolate a CB. You can put him to the side where the CB is weaker and attack there (if they don’t match it with their best CB).
These are the reasons 22 personnel is great for youth football. It’s a formation / personnel grouping that is great for all age levels. It’s also a formation that fits the skill set of most youth football teams. There are several different run and passing concepts that can be utilizes that will shred the defense. It’s easy to install and it will create alignment conflict for the defense.
