T-ing up the defense | How Penn State helped revitalize the T-Formation in 2022
Once a proud and well-known play across the football field has since fallen off the playsheets of many that have recognized the growth of the passing game. That was until now.
Entering back into the lives of offensive coordinators across the National Football League and the college world, the T-formation has been restored.
The T-formation is when an offense stacks seven players at the line of scrimmage with the quarterback under center and three position players lining up five yards back in a T-like shape.
Highlighted by the Philadelphia Eagles' offense in 2022 as they used the “Robust T” on third and fourth down in short distances to make a Super Bowl run. The play wasn’t just used in the NFL but also close to a place 107 thousand fans call home.
In Happy Valley, Penn State’s offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and James Franklin began implementing the formation into their offense in 2022. However, they had a different idea outside of sneaking it in or by the defense.
The Nittany Lions used Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen in the backfield, along with another player of choice, to push the defense back and open gigantic holes for their running backs to hit.
Singleton and Allen were given the ball with nine blockers leading the way. When watching the blue and white in 2022, having nine blockers in front of Singleton or Allen is dangerous for opposing defenses.
Not only was having one of the most outstanding freshman running back duos that the Big Ten had ever seen help the play succeed, but also an experienced quarterback under center.
Sean Clifford’s six years of collegiate experience helped the play succeed in the offense. With his veteran eye, Clifford helped the Nittany Lions adjust at the line of scrimmage.
Clifford’s ability to adjust on the fly, paired with the sensational running back talent and a talented line, resulted in the team achieving a 70.00% success rate on fourth-down conversions in 2022 compared to their 46.15% in 2021.
Penn State used it in short distances to keep the drive alive, but also for long gains and in the red zone. A prime example was in the Rose Bowl against No. 8 Utah.
On a third-and-two situation in the red zone with 12 seconds left in the first quarter, Clifford snapped the ball and handed it to Singleton on the far side of the formation. Singleton followed behind two blockers leading the charge into the endzone for the game's first touchdown.
While the play was successful in 2022, Penn State might not be able to repeat the same success in 2023.
The great thing about implementing a play like this in the middle of the season is that it's unexpected and catches teams off guard. Now, the Nittany Lions have to face them, knowing they’ve studied the play all offseason.
Along with Clifford heading off to the NFL, the blue and white also lost its starting center Juice Scruggs and tight end Brenton Strange, who both led the way blocking.
As Drew Allar takes on the pressure and control of the offense under Mike Yuricich, it's a coin toss on whether or not the play will be used in 2023 as often as it was in 2022.
Penn State could stick to its strengths and trust that the offense can outperform its opponents that know what's coming, or the Nittany Lions will re-adjust to their new circumstances. Whether they do or don’t, the revival of the formation goes to show that history always repeats itself.
Micheal Bolger is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email mpb6233@psu.edu.
