The best offenses find a way to get their best 11 on the field. While 10 and 11 personnel are the most widely used groups in high school and college football, many times that leaves the 2nd running back standing on the sideline waiting for the starter to need a rest. Inevitably, he may be one of the more dynamic players on the team. Getting both of those running backs on the field is easily accomplished through utilizing 20 personnel.  

The first advantage of utilizing two running backs is that it takes away the check to back set strategy of the defense employed against one-back sidecar sets. The play can go either way in 20 personnel.

It can give the offense the ability to check the run to the front without moving anyone in the backfield. If your backs are of near equal talent both running the ball and blocking, or running inside and getting a pitch, or catching the ball in the flat, then plays can be called with a “check with me” allowing the quarterback to put the play to the side where it is most advantageous.

Match-ups can be dictated by the offense. Someone needs to cover the back out of the backfield. Defenders who now need to move back into the box because of the two back set also still have their pass responsibilities in the flat. Play action can easily get one of the backs into the flat quickly outflanking the defense getting a running back into space where they are best. 

Misdirection with split flow gives the defense a lot to look at and dissect. Whether its an split flow zone, split flow iso, option, or counter, having two backs in the backfield can easily create misdirection that slows down the defensive flow to the football. Defensive coordinators always talk about wanting their defenders to play fast. Misdirection has an adverse effect on that.

Max protection possibilities. While the snag game and other passing concepts can employ booth backs into routes, there are times when having those backs in protection or at a minimum, checking their way out, allows an offense to take some shots downfield. Head Coach at Averett University, Patrick Henry will do just that while employing a cross flow to create a run look in the backfield and creating time to throw the ball downfield.

Coach Henry explains his 20 personnel package and how it is utilized to run, option, get 4 or 5 receivers out into the route, play action, and max protect. In this video he explains their 3 man snag concept while employing 6-man protection.

Coach Henry’s course illustrates each concept with diagrams and video allowing you to have the details you need to install this and get your best 11 on the field.