As I pour through all the film each week from the previous games, I always write down any interesting formations or plays that I think are good to attack defences. It gave me the idea to talk about what formations are used in the CFL and some of the reasons why they are used. Formation is defined as a structure or arrangement of something. In the case of football, it is eligible Receivers in relation to the football field. Most teams usually communicate some basic terms for formations based on the wide side of the field. For example, if there are three Receivers to the field and two Receivers to the boundary that is called a 3x2 set, 3 Field and 2 Boundary. 2x3 is two Receivers to the field and three Receivers to the boundary. 4x1 has four Receivers to the field and one to the boundary. If the numbers used equal five, the back is assumed to be in the backfield. If the numbers equal six the back is part of the spread formation. For example, 3x3 and 4x2 has the back as one of the Receivers in the formation. Lets talk about some of the formations used in the CFL, and how they are utilized. 3x2 set This is the most common formation seen in the CFL, with three Receivers spread to the wide side of the field. The three Receivers are put to the field to use the width to their advantage. The width forces the defenders to cover the whole width of the field. From the Boundary Hash to the sideline there are 41 yards to be covered by defenders. The three Receivers try to spread the field horizontally and vertically to attack the zones that are played by defenders. Many times there are only four defenders to cover the 41 yards both vertically and horizontally, so there are spaces in the zones. That is why teams must also employ man-to-man coverage where there arent holes in the defence because each man is covered. The two Receivers into the boundary and its 24 yards are usually covered by three defenders. Many teams employ the two Receivers into the boundary because they can run simple concepts where the QB can read one defender and throw off of him. The CFL has a lot of two-man Pattern combinations and they are often employed into the boundary because they are shorter throws for the Quarterback. 2x3 set Another formation often used is two Receivers to the field and three Receivers to the boundary. Teams employ this formation often for two reasons. First it forces the defenders to decide what to do with their Sam or strong side Linebacker. Does the Sam stay to the field to cover the wide side or will he adjust to the boundary to help cover the extra receiver into the boundary? That is one of the first things you teach the QB to look for in this formation, where is the Sam? If he stays to the field, we have an offensive advantage to the boundary go there. If he goes to the boundary, we can now attack the width of the field with the two offensive players. Many of the same Pattern concepts that you run into the boundary can now be employed to the wide side of the field. 4x1 set Four Receivers to the field is often used to make the defence make a decision on how to space their defenders again. This time it is the boundary halfback who is the adjuster. He can either move to cover the width of the field and the additional Receiver to the wide side or he can stay backside and help the boundary cornerback with the single Receiver. A lot of offences at times will throw away from this defender. If the Halfback goes to the field you can put the Single Receiver in a 1-on-1 situation against the boundary corner. Quarterbacks often times will take the 1-on-1 throw into the boundary. If the Defence is concerned about the 1-on-1 on the backside they can leave the halfback on the backside hash mark to help the boundary cornerback. If that happens, then the offence should have an advantage to the wide side of the field with the four Receivers and the width of the field. 3x3 set Once you empty the backfield by removing the back the defence must remove a linebacker to cover the tailback in the formation or they must move the FS out of the middle of the field to cover the Receiver. Most teams will like to keep the FS in the middle of the field to have a deep defender so the weakside linebacker will usually move out to cover the back. Many teams will now try to get the linebacker in a coverage mismatch against the tailback in space, especially when they play man coverage. The other advantage offences have is that there are only five defenders in the box area (the area around the OL) and it creates an advantage for QB runs and draws. This is because there are five blockers for five defenders so there should be a chance to run. The defence has an advantage if they want to blitz because there are not a lot of protectors for the QB and there is a short edge on both sides to the QB. Short edge means a short distance to hit the QB. The last two basic formations to talk about are the ones with two backs in the backfield. Another back allows for another blocker in the run game, another pass protector to lengthen the edge and another possible ball carrier. 2x2 set This is a balanced formation with two Receivers field and two boundary and also two backs in the backfield. This puts the Sam linebacker into the box area and usually puts two defenders to the field and the boundary. This allows you to run two-man pass concepts on either side of the field. Offences like this formation because it allows for seven pass protectors, gives you six blockers in the run game and simplifies coverage because the Sam has to stay in the box area. 3x1 Set The 3x1 formation is similar to the 4x1 set because it forces the boundary halfback to decide to come to the field or whether or not to help the backside cornerback. A lot of teams will either work the boundary 1-on-1, or will max protect and work the wide side of the field. Coaches spend a lot of time watching video that is sorted by formations to be able to see how their opponents defend them. They will watch every 4x1 set video clip and decide on how to attack it based on the alignments they see on the film. Next week we can talk about exotic formations and motions! Kenny Stabler Jersey . Adam LaRoche will take that. "I like our position in the standings and I like how our team is playing," LaRoche said after Washington swept a day-night doubleheader from the Cubs on Saturday. Otis Sistrunk Jersey . -- Cheyenne Woods, the niece of Tiger Woods, shot a 2-under 69 on Tuesday to finish first in stroke-play qualifying at the Womens U. http://www.cheapraidersjerseysauthentic....plunkett-jersey. Levante, which had lost five straight including a Copa del Rey game last weekend, fell behind at its Ciutat de Valencia stadium when Ionut Sapanura opened the scoring for Elche in the 26th minute. Tim Brown Jersey . In his first game with Boston University, the 17-year-old Eichel picked up five assists as his Boston University Terriers thumped St. Howie Long Jersey . With newly minted president of hockey operations Trevor Linden looking on from above one day after being handed the keys to the franchise, it was more of the same on Thursday night.LONDON - Arsenal and Chelsea showed more great form ahead of Champions League matches with thrashings of Norwich and Cardiff that left the London clubs first and second respectively in the Premier League on Saturday. Now unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions, Arsenal dismantled Norwich 4-1 at home while Samuel Etoo scored his first Chelsea goal and was involved in a controversial equalizer to spark a 4-1 win at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal has not lost a game since its opening Premier League 3-1 home loss to Aston Villa in August that angered the Gunners fans and might have played a role in German playmaker Mesut Ozils transfer to the club from Real Madrid. Ozil scored a brace against Norwich and has been key to Arsenals resurgence. "A few weeks ago we lost our first home game here and it was a difficult time, but we responded well and since then we have been consistent," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said ahead of Tuesdays Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. "I like the solidarity in the team, of course we have quality, but its how much we maintain that and sustain that, that will decide our future." The Gunners are two points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool after the Reds had to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw against 10-man Newcastle. Adam Lallana grabbed a late equalizer for Southampton in a 1-1 draw at Manchester United, adding to the defending champions troubles in a lacklustre start to their title defence. Also on Saturday, Everton beat Hull 2-1, Stoke was held to a 0-0 draw by West Brom and Swansea defeated last-place Sunderland 4-0. At St James Park, Daniel Sturridges header salvaged a point for Liverpool against 10-man Newcastle, but the England striker also missed a great opportunity to give the Reds the win in the closing stages when he completely misjudged his volley after being brilliantly picked out in the area by Steven Gerrard. Yohan Cabayes long-range strike had put the Magpies ahead before Gerrard scored his 100th league goal for Liverpool, equalizing from the spot after defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa was sent-off for a foul on Luis Suarez in the 40th minute. Substitute Paul Dummet restored the home sides lead in the 57th with a shot at the far post against the run of the play but Sturridge headed home Suarezs precise cross in the 72nd. Liverpool monopolized the ball after halftime and created the best chances but Sturridge, wwho has scored in seven of Liverpools eight league matches this season, volleyed wide before Newcastle goalkeeper Krul denied Suarezs free kick in added time with an excellent save.dddddddddddd "Its a chance missed for us today," Gerrard said. "I thought we did enough to win it but credit to Newcastle for hanging in there. After the sending off the game changed. They started strongly but we dominated the rest of game but couldnt get enough goals to win it." Ahead of its Champions League trip to Schalke, Chelsea extended its unbeaten Premier League run at home to 13 matches after recovering from a goal down and equalizing with a controversial goal which should have been disallowed. Jordon Mutch had put the visitors in front before Eden Hazard levelled in the 33rd, being set up by Etoo who caught out Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall while he was bouncing the ball, leading to Hazard scoring from close range. FIFA rules state the goalkeeper is still in possession at that point. Etoo made it 2-1 in the 66th before Oscar put the match to bed and Hazard scored his second of the afternoon. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands before the third and four goals for berating the officials as Chelsea fans chanted "Jose Mourinho, he sits where he wants." Mourinho climbed over the dugout and opted to sit next to a fan who tweeted: "OMG morinho is sitting next to me." Manchester Uniteds disappointing start to the season continued as Southampton scored a late equalizer at Old Trafford. United had taken the lead after 26 minutes when Robin Van Persie scored from the rebound after Wayne Rooneys shot was saved by Artur Boruc. Rooney then hit the crossbar with a volley moments later and Van Persie headed against the bar in the second half before Southampton levelled in the 89th as Lallana bundled in a corner from James Ward-Prowse. "We had the opportunities to go 2-0 up. They had been knocking on the door but I thought we would see it out," United manager David Moyes said. "But if you dont defend a corner well enough, theres always a chance they will score. We had a couple of good chances where we could have finished them off and if we had scored a second it wouldve put the game to bed, but 1-0 is always a dangerous scoreline." United is provisionally eighth in the standings, eight points behind Arsenal. 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