The death of the I

[jkeeler]

Just wanted to know the board's thoughts on why the "I" formation is becoming near extinct in football. Here is some of the reasons I can think of off the top of my head.

1. Zone running game. The Fb leading on an iso has been replaced with a fb offset blocking the backside end on IZ. On OZ, you tend to see him in a strong offset I look or in a trips set where he can get to the OLB quicker.
2. Less option football. With less option football, the fb dive has been faced out. There are still option teams, but your more likely to see a spread option team with a zone read base then an I option team that uses the fb dive/veer as their base play.
3. Doesn't allow immediate weakside horizontal/vertical stretches. Defenses aren't worried about I fb's in a weakside passing game. Allows them to double the split end and can throw combo coverages to the strongside.
4. Power Play. One of the oldest running plays in football, coaches like to use the fb with motion in a one back set or in an offset look because the angle for the kickout is easier.
5. The slot position. Coaches they have more quicker, lighter slot kids then the heavier, bruising full backs. Coaches have to adaptable and have found ways to pass and run the ball effectively without the 200 plus pound back leading the way for the tailback.

let me hear your thoughts.

[CoachJoe]

All good points, here are some of my thoughts, nothing new...

1. You're committing yourself to one feature back. There seems to be an abundance of skill athletes out there now, and you want to get the ball in their hands. You're definitely right about the Fullback position being phased out. Another one is the Tight End. You need both these kids in the I, and most of us who have a true FB or TE need him to play Guard.

2. Basketball on grass is winning out over power football right now. You have to compete for athletes with Baseball and Basketball now, and those kids aren't showing up to stalk block.

3. Defenses are pretty sophisticated now, and in my opinion the I backfield is by far the easiest thing to read. Most of the time you either get full flow out of the backfield. Even on counter flow, you get two fat kids flashing across the Linebacker's face.

4. The wussifcation of America. Hey someone had to say it! Not really, I think if you have the hosses for power football though, the Wing-T or the Splitback Veer is a better way to do it.