South Carolina Receiver Position Designations
The 2012 football season practices for the South Carolina Gamecocks began about ten days ago. The players are giving the media short interviews about the practices.
Mostly, the media seems focused on discerning the depth chart. I am not sure why. It is so early that even the players themselves are not really sure about who will play the most in the August 30 opening game at Vanderbilt. The nationally televised ESPN game is scheduled to start at 7 P.M. Eastern Standard Time.
When interviewing receivers, the reporters ask what position the receiver is playing. They answer by saying "Z" or "X" or "B." Some of the reporters, whose job it is to cover football, are confused and the receivers have to explain.
The chart below was made based on Spurrier's Florida Fun-N-Gun playbook. The receiver positions are diagrammed here with eight formations. This post attempts to evaluate these positions and speculates about how they might be applicable to the 2012 Gamecock receivers.
South Carolina Receiver Position Designations
The 2012 football season practices for the South Carolina Gamecocks began about ten days ago. The players are giving the media short interviews about the practices.
Mostly, the media seems focused on discerning the depth chart. I am not sure why. It is so early that even the players themselves are not really sure about who will play the most in the August 30 opening game at Vanderbilt. The nationally televised ESPN game is scheduled to start at 7 P.M. Eastern Standard Time.
When interviewing receivers, the reporters ask what position the receiver is playing. They answer by saying "Z" or "X" or "B." Some of the reporters, whose job it is to cover football, are confused and the receivers have to explain.
The chart below was made based on Spurrier's Florida Fun-N-Gun playbook. The receiver positions are diagrammed here with eight formations. This post attempts to evaluate these positions and speculates about how they might be applicable to the 2012 Gamecock receivers.
Ace Sanders is now playing Alshon's old position, the X position. This has the media confused because Alshon was big and rangy while Ace is smaller and quicker. Does this mean the character of Spurrier's offense has taken on a new dimension?
It seems to me that the answer to why Alshon played X is pretty simple. The X receiver is designated in every Fun-N-Gun formation. That probably remains true now in Spurrier's evolving offense. It makes sense that the Gamecocks best receiver would play X. A talented receiver like Alshon had to play X. Anything else and Spurrier would be stupid.
Because the X receiver plays in many formations, that player needs to have a great understanding of the offensive playbook. According to reports, Ace is now the best of the returning Gamecock receivers. He, according to most of the receivers who have been interviewed, is teaching other receivers the playbook, where to lineup, how to read defenses, etc. Ace is also a more natural X because of his size disparity with Alshon. Spurrier Junior stated that he likes Ace at X because, "The outside guy gets a little more freedom."
Reporters want to know if Ace will take Alshon's role as a go-to receiver this season. Ace shot that idea down by stating that, "Nobody is looking to be Alshon. Everyone is trying to be our own identity." Spurrier Junior said he hopes that four receivers can be go-to guys.
According to Damiere Byrd, Bruce Ellington and he are playing the Z position. This is pretty interesting because the Z position is the slot receiver in many formations. The slot receiver is often called upon to block a linebacker or a strong safety on running plays. Spurrier Junior stated in a recent interview that, "the Z player has to be a better blocker."
Clearly, the smaller guys like Byrd or even Ellington will have a tough time blocking against bigger athletes, who can toss them aside like rag dolls. The media hones in on that blocking issue. It seems like they are second guessing the coaches' position selection for the players. But Spurrier Junior defended Byrd's blocking ability saying, "He tougher than you think he is."
Moreover, The size advantage defenders enjoy on running plays is a disadvantage on passing plays. Ace described it as a "mismatch." Spurrier Junior said he likes Byrd at Z because defenders have a tough time, "getting their hands on him." Additionally, the diagram shows that twenty-five percent of formations has the Z is often split out into a wide receiver position. So, while the Z receiver is mostly in the slot, sometimes he is not. Throw in motion, and shifting, and you can see how this could make defending a small, quick Z receiver difficult for a big safety or linebacker.
The chart also indicates the X and Z will be on the field in many formations. Thus, you want your second best receiver starting at the Z position so he is playing a lot. The South Carolina depth chart, shows the X at the top, and the Z as the second set of receivers.
The B receiver position are shown in the third set on the depth chart. A B receiver is on the field for only twenty-five percent of the Fun-N-Gun formations. Thus, B receivers play only when the offense is set wide-open into a passing formation. How often this will happen in 2012 considering the Gamecock running attack and tight ends remains to be seen.
The Y and S receivers indicate formations for the tight ends and running backs. South Carolina's offense will feature tight ends and running backs a lot this year due to the talent at those positions.
The coaches have seemed somewhat excited about two freshman tight ends, Jerrell Adams and Drew Owens. Coupled with Justice Cunningham and Buster Anderson, a receiver who had several big plays last year, the sky could be the limit at Y receiver. Does that mean the Y receivers will see the field more often than the B? Most probably.
Obviously, with five pretty decent running backs, people are also talking about a two back setup. If that happens, the B receiver spot may not see as much action.
It seems to me that the answer to why Alshon played X is pretty simple. The X receiver is designated in every Fun-N-Gun formation. That probably remains true now in Spurrier's evolving offense. It makes sense that the Gamecocks best receiver would play X. A talented receiver like Alshon had to play X. Anything else and Spurrier would be stupid.
Because the X receiver plays in many formations, that player needs to have a great understanding of the offensive playbook. According to reports, Ace is now the best of the returning Gamecock receivers. He, according to most of the receivers who have been interviewed, is teaching other receivers the playbook, where to lineup, how to read defenses, etc. Ace is also a more natural X because of his size disparity with Alshon. Spurrier Junior stated that he likes Ace at X because, "The outside guy gets a little more freedom."
Reporters want to know if Ace will take Alshon's role as a go-to receiver this season. Ace shot that idea down by stating that, "Nobody is looking to be Alshon. Everyone is trying to be our own identity." Spurrier Junior said he hopes that four receivers can be go-to guys.
According to Damiere Byrd, Bruce Ellington and he are playing the Z position. This is pretty interesting because the Z position is the slot receiver in many formations. The slot receiver is often called upon to block a linebacker or a strong safety on running plays. Spurrier Junior stated in a recent interview that, "the Z player has to be a better blocker."
Clearly, the smaller guys like Byrd or even Ellington will have a tough time blocking against bigger athletes, who can toss them aside like rag dolls. The media hones in on that blocking issue. It seems like they are second guessing the coaches' position selection for the players. But Spurrier Junior defended Byrd's blocking ability saying, "He tougher than you think he is."
Moreover, The size advantage defenders enjoy on running plays is a disadvantage on passing plays. Ace described it as a "mismatch." Spurrier Junior said he likes Byrd at Z because defenders have a tough time, "getting their hands on him." Additionally, the diagram shows that twenty-five percent of formations has the Z is often split out into a wide receiver position. So, while the Z receiver is mostly in the slot, sometimes he is not. Throw in motion, and shifting, and you can see how this could make defending a small, quick Z receiver difficult for a big safety or linebacker.
The chart also indicates the X and Z will be on the field in many formations. Thus, you want your second best receiver starting at the Z position so he is playing a lot. The South Carolina depth chart, shows the X at the top, and the Z as the second set of receivers.
The B receiver position are shown in the third set on the depth chart. A B receiver is on the field for only twenty-five percent of the Fun-N-Gun formations. Thus, B receivers play only when the offense is set wide-open into a passing formation. How often this will happen in 2012 considering the Gamecock running attack and tight ends remains to be seen.
The Y and S receivers indicate formations for the tight ends and running backs. South Carolina's offense will feature tight ends and running backs a lot this year due to the talent at those positions.
The coaches have seemed somewhat excited about two freshman tight ends, Jerrell Adams and Drew Owens. Coupled with Justice Cunningham and Buster Anderson, a receiver who had several big plays last year, the sky could be the limit at Y receiver. Does that mean the Y receivers will see the field more often than the B? Most probably.
Obviously, with five pretty decent running backs, people are also talking about a two back setup. If that happens, the B receiver spot may not see as much action.
South Carolina Receiver Position Designations