Picking the NFL's best offenses at every personnel grouping
Matt Bowen
ESPN Staff Writer
7/10/2019
The way NFL teams use personnel is different from when I played from 2000 to 2006 as a defensive back. You don't see as many old-school fullbacks with the neck rolls, digging out linebackers in traditional two-back sets. The tight end position? Much more versatility and speed there. Those guys can move. And it leads to positive matchups against linebackers, safeties or even slot corners when the big boys flex from the formation.
That also means the way offenses line up has changed too. Sure, we still see a ton of three-wide receiver sets. But with offenses spreading the field more than ever -- and the passing game becoming more horizontal at times -- the new-school approach has filtered into offensive game plans with personnel, formation and alignment.
Let's take a look back at 2018 and evaluate the offenses that excelled at 12 different personnel groupings. I'll tell you which teams ran each personnel the most and the least. And I'll tell you which ones ran it the best -- and who could dominate in 2019. Here we go:
22 personnel (2 RBs, 2 TEs, 1 WR)
Why it works: Similar to discussing 13 personnel, lining up in 22 gives the offense the ability to build more run gaps along the line of scrimmage while adding a lead blocker out of two-back sets. Plus, it forces the defense to use eight- and sometimes nine-man boxes, which creates more isolation matchups outside for the single wide receiver on the field.
The teams that ran it most: The Los Angeles Chargers tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers with 90 snaps out of 22 personnel. Looking at the Chargers, with fullback Derek Watt in the game to dig out daylight for Melvin Gordon, the L.A. running back checked in at fourth in the NFL with 5.3 yards per carry on 27 attempts out of 22 sets.
The team that ran it best: It's close here with the Chargers, Steelers and New Orleans Saints, as all three teams have the ability to run downhill while using the pass game out of 22. But I'll go with the Steelers, for whom running back James Conner led the league with 43 rush attempts and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 15 of a league-high 19 pass attempts with 22 personnel on the field.
The teams that ran it least: The Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins didn't run a single snap out of 22 personnel. And it was interesting that Cleveland -- which ranked second in 13 personnel with 153 snaps -- lined up with 22 personnel only once.
20 personnel (2 RBs, 3 WRs)
Why it works: A personnel grouping that was mainstream during my time in the league, offensive coordinators can motion a back out to create 3x1 or 2x2 spread sets, while also stretching the defense in the run game or pulling guards against odd-man fronts. And don't forget about the true play-action 20 personnel presents for playcallers.
The team that ran it most: The Detroit Lions led the league with 45 snaps out of 20 personnel, with quarterback Matthew Stafford completing 25 of 37 passes for 260 yards. But don't sleep on the Saints or Drew Brees here. New Orleans ran 18 total snaps out of 20 personnel, with Brees completing 14 of 16 passes for 252 yards. And the veteran quarterback led the league with 15.8 yards per attempt.
The team that ran it best: Where do we look with Denver? It's the run game with Phillip Lindsay. The rookie lead the NFL with 14 carries for 118 yards -- good for 8.43 yards per carry -- out of 20 personnel. Expect the Broncos' offense to look different under new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello, who coached under Shanahan in San Francisco, but Lindsay should still get a bunch of touches.
The teams that ran it least: The Bucs and Eagles were two of the eight teams not to run a single snap out of 20 personnel. But that follows the same trend we talked about earlier with 21 and 22 personnel, and both clubs ran heavy one-back systems.
23 personnel (2 RBs, 3 TEs)
Why it works: Also referred to as jumbo or goal-line personnel, having a two-back set with three tight ends on the field allows offenses to reduce the formation in short yardage and tight red zone situations. But as we have seen in the past, creative playcallers -- think New England's Josh McDaniels here -- will bring 23 personnel on the field and spread out the formation to create matchups.
The teams that ran it most: The Panthers tied the Patriots with 18 snaps out of 23 personnel, and that shows up often inside the tight red zone. With both teams, it creates situations to run downhill power or use the play-action game.
The team that ran it best: I want to stick with the Panthers because of quarterback Cam Newton. In addition to stopping running back Christian McCaffrey on the goal line in 23 sets, opposing defenses have to account for misdirection and boot with Newton carrying the rock or throwing to the tight end off play-action.
The teams that ran it least: Seven teams -- the Rams, Chiefs, Texans, Bucs, Browns, Titans and Jets -- didn't line up in the traditional goal-line set during the 2018 season. And I'm pretty surprised with every team on that list, outside of the Rams and Chiefs -- both with offenses that want to spread the field regardless of field position.
10 personnel (1 RB, 4 WRs)
Why it works: With four wide receivers on the field, offenses can spread out opposing defenses horizontally, and that allows them to put defenders in conflict with today's run-pass option concepts. With the ability to only use six-man protection, however, the quick passing game takes precedence.
The team that ran it most: The Lions led the NFL with 47 snaps out of 10 personnel last season. But with Detroit hiring Darrell Bevell as its new offensive coordinator -- and drafting tight end T.J. Hockenson at No. 8 overall -- we should expect that number to dip significantly in 2019.
The team that ran it best: The Bucs will have a new offensive system in place under new coach Bruce Arians, but in 2018, quarterback Jameis Winston completed 14 of 22 passes for 230 yards out of 10 personnel. Of quarterbacks with at least 10 pass attempts with four wide receivers on the field, Winston ranked first in yards per attempt at 10.5.
The teams that ran it least: Nine teams -- Packers, Redskins, Chiefs, Eagles, Cardinals, Texans, 49ers, Panthers, Rams -- didn't run a single snap of 10 personnel last season. If I could pick one from this group that will flip the script in 2019? Yeah, it's the Cardinals with new coach Kliff Kingsbury and rookie quarterback Kyler Murray. Spread the field and play with tempo.
Several other formations where the Bucs were not mentioned...
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27155975/picking-nfl-best-offenses-every-personnel-grouping
