Setting Up

[mattgslater]

You've got three players throwing blocks on the LOS. Likely two players for the centerfield blitz (if that's opened up by the initial blocks). And than two more players marking a flank. That leaves only four players.

Not how I see it.

You have six players ready to throw blocks on the LOS (three will, guaranteed) or to run in the blitz (only one guy will blitz, assuming he's ST4+). You may have one faster player hanging out in the play-side WZ, plus two fullbacks (BB fullbacks, that is) to function as retrievers, and perhaps a halfback on the play-side ready to chainpush if that's to be. That leaves one more guy to occupy either blank square on the weakside LOS, or to play centerfield or weakside halfback for ball security, or to play a second strongside halfback, either in order to get an extra chainpush or to play cage front. Which it is depends on what kinds of team races are playing.

[mattgslater]

I've been thinking about this Arrowhead variant Sunnyside has going on. It's really three variations on the standard 3-5 Arrowhead.

1) The second rank of players (midfielders and flankers) are set one-back, as opposed to two back, while the centerfielder is two-back, on the plane with the wingers, blurring the lines between a 3-4 and a 3-5.

2) The wing players are brought in one square so the flankers can protect the wingers.

3) The free safety is back deep, but not so deep he can't cross the LOS.

The more I think about it, the more I like the various elements of it. I do have a concern that #1 and #2 are incompatible unless you are immune to chain-pushes or you know you're facing a newer team. I'd use the first variation against a team that I didn't think could make anything of a quick-snap, and if I were fairly certain that they wouldn't be able to chainpush their way into extra blocks without blitzing. The second variation is good against a slow team. Frankly, it's even stronger from two squares back, because instead of opening up to MA7, it only opens up to MA8. But that does allow the offense to set their man up where he's not susceptible to crowdpush on a Blitz roll, and where he can go inside if there's a complication (like if the ball scatters to him).

#3 is particularly good football if the centerfielder is a mighty SOB who is hard to clear out, like a big guy with Stand Firm.