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InAmerican football, thepro set orsplit backs formation is aformation that has been commonly used as a "base" set by professional and amateur teams. The "pro set" formation features anoffensive backfield that deploys tworunning backs aligned side-by-side instead of one in front of the other as in traditionalI-formation sets. It was an outgrowth of the three-running-backT-formation, with the third running back (one of thehalfbacks) in the T becoming a permanent flanker, now referred to as awide receiver.
This formation has been particularly popular because teams can both run and pass the football out of it with an equal amount of success. It keeps defenses guessing what type of play the offense will run. Because the backs are opposite each other, it takes the defense longer to read the gap through which the offense will run the ball.[1]
The set can be run with a singletight end and two receivers or no tight ends and three receivers.
A standard pro set places the backs about 5 yards behind theline of scrimmage, spaced evenly behind theguards ortackles. In this look, teams may utilize two halfbacks, or one halfback and onefullback.
A variation of the pro set places the backs offset toward either side. This look is almost universally used with one fullback and one halfback. The backs line up closer to the line of scrimmage than in a standard pro set, about 3 yards deep. The fullback lines up directly behind the quarterback, in the same spot as in the I-Formation. The halfback then lines up behind either the left or right tackle.
Once the run has been established, it can be a dangerous formation. Because of the real threat of a team running out of the pro-set, defenses must respect theplay fake and play run[clarification needed]. This pulls the safety to the line and opens up the middle of the field deep. Also, with both backs in position to "pick up" an outsideblitz, the pro set gives a quarterback an abundance of time to find an open receiver.
The formation has lost its popularity at the college and professional level recently with the rise ofshotgun split back formations.[2] It remains common at thehigh school level.
In theNational Football League, in the mid-to-late 2000s, the formation was used almost exclusively byWest Coast offense-based teams in occasionalthird down passing situations andgoal-line situations. In the early 2010s, the pro set almost completely disappeared from the NFL, however in the late 2010s it was used once again as an occasional goal line andpassing down formation by West Coast offense based teams.Andy Reid recently used the Pro Set inSuper Bowl LVII against the Eagles late in the 4th quarter, which led to a game leading field goal.
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