Personnel Groupings

Harry

ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2003
Posts
12,731
Reaction score
27,971
Location
Orlando, FL

bojack

Hall of Famer
Joined
Aug 28, 2015
Posts
1,134
Reaction score
516
It's pretty simple...
First number denotes backs (RB, FB)
Second number denotes tight ends

The rest are receivers. The 5 lineman and the QB.

21 personnel is 2 backs, 1 TE, 5 lineman and QB = 9 players, which means there is 2 WRs.

01 personnel (1 personnel) is 0 backs, 1 TE = 4 receivers.

You have to have 5 ineligible players, which are usually the lineman unless you report otherwise before getting set at the line. The QB is eligible but being under center you typically have 5 eligible receivers and the personnel group designated how many are backs and how many a TE, with the remaining of the 5 being receivers.

Where it gets a little confusing sometimes is the group can be designated based on the players position, not where they lineup (I have heard people call it both ways). So if you have a TE lined up as WR and a running back it still may be called 11 personnel even though it is really a 10 personnel formation.
 
Top