Boundary/Field, Weak/Strong, Backside/Playside, Left/Right
I've been getting questions in the comments every week for Neck Sharpies so I figured I'd just clarify what I mean when I say stuff like "The strongside linebacker had to fight to get playside of the blocking and force the back into the boundary safety."
![image_thumb[20]](https://mgoblog.com/sites/default/files/image_thumb%5B20%5D_0.png "image_thumb[20]")
- Boundary/Field is relative to where the ball began. Boundary is the side closest to the sideline from where the play started, Field is the more open side. Often you'll see more agile players put to the field side, because there's more space out there. Many defenses align boundary/field not strong/weak.
- Weak/Strong is relative to which side has the running strength for the offense. Normally the side with the tight end is the strong side. Otherwise it's the side with more receivers, or the side opposite where the running back is (since his angle will take him that way). Michigan puts its Viper wherever the #1 tight end is so the "Will" (weakside) linebacker can relate to the running back.
- Backside/Playside is relative to the direction the blocking or the ball is going. A single defender for example might fight to get "playside" of a blocker, at which point the running back might cut to the "backside."
- Left/Right: I try to stay away from these but if they come up it's usually in reference the player I'm talking about right then.
That is all.
October 7th, 2019 at 10:06 PM ^
So after you box em?
October 7th, 2019 at 10:17 PM ^
You ship 'em...smartass.
October 7th, 2019 at 10:34 PM ^
I threw the alley and you oop'd it. Thank you
October 7th, 2019 at 10:06 PM ^
Suddenly I'm singing the Hokey Pokey.
October 7th, 2019 at 10:18 PM ^
This site is so good for making me look like I know what I'm talking about when watching with friends.
October 8th, 2019 at 12:18 AM ^
Along those same lines, my wife is bedazzled on how much I know about football.
October 8th, 2019 at 5:45 AM ^
when that happens its time to take her in your arms and, you know, diagram plays.
October 8th, 2019 at 7:43 AM ^
Just be prepared for the consequences. Diagramming plays often results in unexpected additions to the roster.
October 8th, 2019 at 10:51 AM ^
those are "recruits" for X's farm
October 7th, 2019 at 10:21 PM ^
This is the best explanation I've seen for terminology used during play analysis. Thanks!
October 7th, 2019 at 11:02 PM ^
Seth if you don’t have any quick fixes for the coaches presented as no brainer cure-alls why are you posting here? You’re clogging up the tubes!
October 7th, 2019 at 11:03 PM ^
Tarik Black may be trending towards the Devin Funchess school of I’m to good to block.
October 7th, 2019 at 11:52 PM ^
Sticky ?
October 8th, 2019 at 12:36 AM ^
Thank you!! I had been meaning to write and request exactly this feature!!
I have one question. Is there ever any difference between weak & backside (or strong & play side)?
I don't understand what the advantage would be, but I could imagine that it's possible a particular play will line up with the strong side to be to the boundary, but it seems like weak & backside or strong & play side are always synonymous. What am I missing?
Or is it common for the ball to go to the weak side of the formation?
October 8th, 2019 at 6:48 AM ^
They had better not always be synonymous, or as a defensive coordinator, I could overplay that tendency.
Harbaugh used to run some nicely designed weak side runs to counter the defenses that cheated the strong side to deal with power plays.
I’d say a majority of runs do follow the strong side, but the threat of going weak side also has to be present enough to keep defenses honest.
October 8th, 2019 at 7:34 AM ^
Well look at the formation above, if your C reaches the Nose, LG gets to the Will, LT kicks out the E and your back and flash in the middle before bouncing between the LT and LG you might be cooking with something.
Or if your Nose is a mountain like Olive S or Bryan Mone, you double him with the C& LG, and a back "with vision" can see there are multiple holes to hit and can choose the right one.
Now out a FB back there and you've added another blocker and your R(over) most likely backs into a 2 deep look and it's 7 on 7 up front.
Throw in 2 backs against a cover 2 team, now you have 9 on 7 ie: Rich Rod at WVU and Chip Kelly with Oregon. Not UCLA Chip Kelly. Or SF Chip Kelly. Or Philly Chip Kelly.
October 8th, 2019 at 5:10 AM ^
So it what instances would an offense make the boundary side also the strong side? Seems like you be cramming alot of guys into a small space.
October 8th, 2019 at 9:05 AM ^
Harbaugh loved to make the boundary the strong side. He would pack multiple TEs there and run a pin and pull or down G to that side, and then when he play-actions the receivers are operating in all that field.
October 8th, 2019 at 5:30 AM ^
One of the frustrations in watching Michigan on offense during the 1970s was the frequency with which Bo ran sweeps to the boundary or short side of the field.
October 8th, 2019 at 6:41 AM ^
Boundary: The side of the field relative to the ball with a boundary on it, as opposed to the side of the field without a boundary.
Field: The side of the. . . waitaminute.
Strong: The side of the formation with the 250-pound offensive lineman on the end of it.
Weak: The side of the formation with a 320-pound lineman on the end.
Backside: Where I'm going to whip you if you dare fumble the ball
Playside: OK I got nothing for this one
Left/Right: Left is right and right is left. Ask a thespian. Or the defense.
October 8th, 2019 at 8:29 AM ^
You're missing a safety.
October 8th, 2019 at 8:48 AM ^
(Not Pictured: Single High Safety)
October 8th, 2019 at 9:00 AM ^
Starboard/Port
October 8th, 2019 at 9:08 AM ^
You will note I often use green and red for right and left on my diagrams. Sail fast or stay home.
October 9th, 2019 at 2:26 PM ^
Thanks Seth. I'm always trying to learn more about the game of football.