Oldtimers, remember the old "T formation ? ...

It's still an effective formation...IF you have the players to run it!

You have to have 10 guys who can block effectively AND a QB that has great hand skills (ability to fake handoffs, etc). I think it's a great formation for inside the 5 yard line trying to score.

You still see variations of it today (the "A" formation, for example, that Green Bay used to run, or as a formation). The key is having two RB's and a TE that can block in the back of the "T". The problem is that the passing rules have make passing much easier than running, and the running game simply is depreciated.

And it's RARE to see two backs that can block at the same time on the field, since teams don't carry fullbacks any more.

And we used it in the early 60s when I played for the Rawlplug Thunderbolts of the New Rochelle Pop Warner League!

Also known as the “full house” formation . Schwartzie used it coaching SU when I was a kid . Skinner says the first option off the play will be Waller getting a release down the field . That might prove difficult . He envisions a boot by Daniel. Whatever; it’s a riot to watch. I texted my brother opening night : “Did you see that? We’re back at Archbold.” Love the play .

You'd have to be 100 to have been watching that!!!

In comment 16213289 M.S. said:

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And we used it in the early 60s when I played for the Rawlplug Thunderbolts of the New Rochelle Pop Warner League!

I remember the Rawlplug Factory!

When I started watching the Giants (or more often listening on the radio) in the 1950s, they had Gifford and Webster as the halfbacks, Triplett at FB, and Connerly at QB. Part of the goal was leave the defenses wondering who was coming at them. Carries were divided almost equally among the two HBs and the FB.

In comment 16213366 gregori said:

Quote:

In comment 16213289 M.S. said: Quote: And we used it in the early 60s when I played for the Rawlplug Thunderbolts of the New Rochelle Pop Warner League! I remember the Rawlplug Factory!

Ha… small world! I grew up in the north end, Went to Albert Leonard and then New Rochelle High School (Class of 1973).

At Ohio State back in the 60’s

formation too...good times back in the day!

DJ is going to burn a team with an easy outside run TD with that formation.

don't think he's putting up any stats, but he's so versatile playing inline TE, H-back, and fullback kind of sort of.

to this day still runs the wing T. They line up 5 OL and two TE, almost always tight to the linemen and they have had great success in their history. It's relatively boring, but ... something to appreciate, as they are typically a well-oiled machine with it.

9 good blockers.

I'm sorry that some of the videos don't seem to load. This focuses on Bud Wilkinson and Oklahoma in the '50s.
Link - ( New Window )

Not much video here, but it's fun.

And before you ask, this was long before my time. However, my father's coach at Illinois was Bob Zuppke, who also coached Red Grange.
Fourot, Split T, '40s - ( New Window )

Out of the straight T or a close variant of it, then HB Alex Webster would run a cross-buck. Sometimes one of the other backs would run it, but it was Webster's personal bread and butter play.

That simply meant they structured the blocking to allow him to cross from the side of the Center-QB that he lined up on to hit the LOS on the other side of the C-QB axis somewhere between the C and the OT.

They did it many times a game, often not gaining a lot, but getting enough to set up play-action passing and control the ball for good chunks of time.

I found an article on Charlie Conerly.
TUESDAY TIDBITS: "Craggy-Faced, Savvy Pro Football Leader" - ( New Window )