Four strong passing concepts are nothing new in the NFL–the Chiefs have been using them for several years. But 4×1 (Quads) sets have taken the NFL by storm in 2021, with over half the league using these sets to create defensive displacement and matchup problems. There are several advantages for lining up or motioning to Quads. Four strong concepts force defenses to commit enough players to the overloaded side. Meanwhile, motion to 4×1 sets can create confusion and force defenses to communicate quickly. They also create one on one matchups on the backside. Finally, because most defenses use a lighter box, the offense often has a numbers advantage in the QB run game. Let’s take an X’s & O’s look at how offenses have used Quads:
Below, the Panthers line up in a trips set with their best Wide Receiver, D.J. Moore, on the backside before they motion the back out to 4×1 against a 2-high safety look. QB Sam Darnold reads Linebacker Micah Parsons (#11); if Parsons stays in the box, he’ll throw the swing screen. If Parsons vacates the box, Darnold has a numbers advantage for the QB draw:
Swing screen/Q draw pic.twitter.com/L7TJAVe2SH
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) October 4, 2021