A-11 Offense ??

[Ed Hickland]

Originally Posted by kdf5

30, 40, 88, 25 and 35 are legal if they report in. I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Seriously though, how do they come up with all 11 being eligible? Can they play with, for example, 88 in the same position (between 40 & 25) but off the line? Would they then have to move 80 or 85 up to the line? The way I see this is they could have any combination of players on or off the line, as long as they had 5 on the line who were ineligible by position. Do I have that right?

My guess is with 11 eligible numbers the defense is faced with trying to decide which players will be ineligible.

They could take any player and place that player in an ineligible position. Then shift, and exchange that player to an eligible position with either a previously eligible or ineligible player. Example, they come to the line and the interior linemen go into a 2-point stance. Then 25 shifts to position where 45 is currently. 45 shifts to 85's position with 85 taking 25's initial position.

Imagine the defense trying to determine coverage. Even worst, the officiating crew trying to track eligible/ineligible, strong side/weak side.