•  SB Wing Stack

The formation seems to have been cut down, but still a glitchy UC set.  Flippable stretch, dive, and zone weak are the main runs, so attacking both sides and the middle is in play.  Flanker spot has the post/corner going the same way concept I think will be very effective.  PA fork gives you a deep post from compression.  Curl post drag, again, has a version of the post/corner.  That post gets into a sneaky area in the seam that Rich helped exploit in various schemes last year.  It’s missing a bit more, but overall a fun alternative for runners.

•  SB Bunch X Nasty

The SB bunch x nasty is almost complete.  Missing a few plays, but good enough to run.  The fact that you can motion the rb to the line to block or put on routes, should make this even more usable in M24.  Also, the fact that the TE can now block without using motion, is huge.  Tight ends were horrible at blocking last year without secure protector as they’d get ragdolled.  They changed that this year so formations like this are going to be even better.  

•  Gun Doubles Flex Pats

A really glitchy auto motion scheme.  I happen to love this formation.  Mainly because you have that short post from the solo wr which is very rare to find in this game.  The play Corner has that post, the auto motion wr on a corner and the slot wr on a reverse whip.  The spacing of this play can be real annoying.  Z Spot has that short corner which is the same one that’s in U trips.  Really good route vs. man.  This isn’t a big play down the filed offense but a really annoying West Coast style that can be hard to blitz because of the spacing and the RB being on the WR side.  

•  Y Off Trips Pats

Not going to spend too much time here.  One of the best formations in the game.  Very hard to blitz.  Has weird unique routes (te on a glitchy whip and a deep post).  Has posts all over and Scat as that sharp corner.  Will be an early favorite formation for many that play the game.

•  Gun Trips TE

Could be the meta this year.  Has everything you need.  Run game has inside zone, an RPO bubble (great for people who blitz the trips side), counter and quick base.  Has every run you’d need from this set.  The passing can be dink and dunk or explosive.  Doubles in sail (two deep corners), PA shot wheel (crosser by the middle WR), PA slot corner will still be one of the best plays in the game with two corner and a sharp post, Drive post has a post from the inside slot wr this time and pairs with a TE corner, Verticals, slot swing has the outside WR on a post (although you can’t motion with this play and the wr’s align differently so there’s a tell), Curl flat (post, angle and corner), PA counter go has the inside WR on a deep crosser and the middle WR on that glitchy speed out.  Y Post could be an underrated play, depending on the TE Post.  If that post can beat man and get under a middle third, it has real potential.  Plus, a post and corner going the same direction.  Trips TE is always one of the early favorites.  I feel it’s best when defense is a zone meta and that could be the case this year.  There are so many crazy route combos and routes you can’t duplicate even with HRM.  

•  Gun Bunch

Was the meta formation years ago and still has some great plays.  Pats sail has the post and C route (post/corner going same way again).  That C route was great against man in the beta and against zone there’s so much you can do with this one play.  Pats Curl Flat has the point WR on a deep corner as opposed to other plays here with shorter corners.  518 hook has a nice way of attacking the middle of the field and corner strike can challenge either sideline.  Has HB base, a counter and screen.  There’s enough here to build a full scheme around.  Unfortunately you can’t block the TE without using some sort of motion.  

•  Bunch Strg Offset

Only has 6 plays but, verticals, corner strike, and Y Trail are good enough to audible from bunch over to this.  

•  Gun Tight Slots

PA flood shot is similar to Gun Tight’s PA cross.  This time, the outside WR on the left is on the deep corner.  Using motion can him misalign man coverage and get him open.  Also have the deep crosser from opposite side.  Mesh switch has the inside WR on a sharp corner.  Another great complementary set.  

•  Empty Sets

Empty chips looks like more of a downfield passing game.  Have to see if those blue routes can hold up.  Base flex is more a traditional 5 wide.  No one is on the line to help protect, but a bunch of crazy routes and attacking the seams with vertical plays is always the main issue with defending 5 wide sets.  Empty chips quads gives you a trips te look with the RB lined up on the trips side.  With HRM this could be really good (please let blue routes work). Empty quads is limited.  If this is a zone heavy year, audibling to that quickly and hitting the verticals play could be nice.

Overall thoughts:  The best just got better.  This book has so much firepower, it has to be an early consideration for meta playbooks.  Adding bunch strong and UC bunch nasty is almost unfair.  U trips, trips te,  bunch and bunch Strg, are all once click away from each other in order.  

Final Grade:  A+