Last season, a formation that grabbed my attention was a double slot formation with either two backs, an h-back and a slot receiver or extra running back. It has all of the benefits of a diamond pistol formation along with the ability to stretch the defense with the pass because four receivers are aligned at the line of scrimmage. Most teams utilize at least one fullback or h-back within the diamond, so this formation works well with that personnel.

With quick motion, the slot can be in the position he would be in for a power read or an run-pass option play. The threat of the tight slot blocking on the line of scrimmage or a linebacker makes him a viable threat in play action. The positioning of the backs and h-backs allows for the planning of look-alike plays, which have the ability to create big lanes for the run or the pass when the defense begins reacting to the first play in the sequence.

In addition, extra gaps on the line of scrimmage are created to stress the run fit of the defense. Quick motion across can shift the extra to the other side, further stressing the defense.

Here are a sampling of look a-like plays utilizing this formation. In the diagrams, the H-back type is labeled Y, and the running back or slot receiver type is labeled J.

Power read. With the J positioned in the slot, quick motion back allows him to be in a position to run the power read. The tailback is utilized as a lead blocker on the perimeter.

Power read Y-pop. The pop pass to the Y is a great complement to the power read. The Y is in position to slow release off the line seeing the void left by the linebacker’s run fit.

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Split zone. With the H-back position. In this play the J will arc to block the W. The $ is unblocked, but he should be maintaining contain in the D gap. We are looking at this as an A gap to A gap play and it doesn’t bounce. In our system, the quarterback catches the ball and uses footwork similar to reverse out footwork from under center. This provides good deception for the naked play.

Split zone naked flood. With the split zone look, the J’s stem on his 10-yard out looks exactly like his stem on his arc to the linebacker. The Y is taught to induce a wrong arm technique from the end and slip into his route. If the end comes upfield, he will lose his route and block him so the quarterback can pull up and throw the ball.

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Zone read. The zone read play has both the Y and the J racing to outside linebackers. The Y will avoid the backside end who is the read. On this play, the quarterback will open at 45 degrees and read the end. The tailback will step at 45 degrees and then come across the front of the quarterback. He is looking to read this play from A gap to A gap.

Zone read play action. The play is exactly the same upfront with the exception of the Y. The Y is responsible for blocking the defensive end on his side. The J arcs as if blocking the W and then releases for width on the wheel. The key to this play is the fake by the tailback. After getting on course for a typical inside zone run, he bounces wide and continues running as if he has the ball. We tell him to “rock the baby” and eye up the defender he is trying to fake out. His objective is to draw the W up for a few steps, allowing the J space to be open on his wheel route. The quarterback rides the mesh from his back leg to his front leg and gets a quick three-step drop looking at the post to the wheel. The post route breaks on the ninth step and should clear the cornerback out of the play.

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Motion across, pin and pull. Motioning the J across to just inside the tackle allows him to pull around the Y and be a lead blocker on the perimeter. Our rule is if you are uncovered, block down, and if you are covered pull around. The J looks to kick out the first defender on the perimeter. The first OL is taught to make him right, so if for some reason he leads up, the OL will kick out. We prefer to pull our center and cut off with the backside linemen, but the scheme can work with the center blocking back and the guard pulling as well.

Motion across and counter. Off of this motion, we can run a counter with three pullers (guard, J, and Y) coming back to the other side. If the defense is kicking down with linebackers, only two pullers would be necessary. The J will look to block to the outside after pulling up inside the trap block, and the Y will look to block to the inside.

These are just some possibilities out of this formation. The four receivers across lends itself to many concepts in the passing game. Triple option football teams make a living out of this formation because of the stress it places on the defense. Mixing and matching personnel with concepts allows you to place your players in the best possible position for success.

Keith Grabowski has been a football coach for 26 years, currently serving as an offensive assistant and technology coordinator at Oberlin College in Ohio. He previously was a head coach at the high school level for eight years and the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Baldwin Wallace University. Grabowski serves as an advisor for several sports technology companies. He is a columnist for American Football Monthly and writes his own blog at thecoachesedge.com/blog. He's the author of "101+ Pro Style Pistol Offense Plays" and five other books available on thecoachedge.comand operates Coaches Edge Technologies. Follow him on Twitter @CoachKGrabowski.