I formation

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noun

, Football.

1. an offensive alignment in which the backs are positioned in line directly behind the quarterback.

Word History and Origins

Origin of I formation¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

The aye: McKay learned the “I” formation from a young junior college coach: Don Coryell.

From Los Angeles Times

This 49ers offensive machine could churn out 100-plus rushing yards with the two of us lining up in the “I” formation.

From New York Times

Nebraska last week showed some of the offense Frost played in when he was the quarterback in the mid-1990s, having Dedrick Mills line up at fullback in the I formation.

From Seattle Times

After Sunday’s game he went as far as to say he would only play Peterson if the Redskins have a game “where we run the ball 55 times a game in the I formation.”

From Washington Post

Long discarded the I formation he had long favored before this season and moved to the spread, hoping to capitalize on the system that quarterback Ryan Agnew ran in high school.

From Los Angeles Times