Understanding the ‘Scatter to West Right Tight’ Play Call in Football

One of the most complex aspects of American football is the language used in play calling ‘Scatter to West Right Tight’ is an example of a common play call that can seem like gibberish to casual fans. By breaking it down piece by piece, we can understand exactly what this play call means

The Structure of an NFL Play Call

A typical NFL play call consists of several key components

• Formation – How the offensive players are lined up on the field
• Strength – Which side of the formation has more players (the ‘strong’ side)
• Motion – Any shifting of players before the snap
• Protection – How the offensive line will block after the snap
• Routes – The paths the receivers will run on pass plays

The play call ‘Scatter to West Right Tight’ follows this structure. Let’s look at each element:

Breaking Down ‘Scatter to West Right Tight’

Formation – ‘Scatter’

The first word indicates the offensive formation. ‘Scatter’ tells the players to line up in a spread formation, with wide receivers dispersed across the field rather than bunched together. This spreads out the defense.

Strength – ‘West Right’

This portion specifies the strong side of the formation. ‘West Right’ means the tight end lines up on the right side of the field, making the right side the strong side with more blockers.

Motion – None

There is no motion called in this play. The players will line up in the ‘Scatter West Right’ formation without any pre-snap movement.

Protection – None

Again, no protection scheme is called here. The offensive line will use a standard protection, often determined by the play itself.

Routes – ‘Tight’

The final word refers to the routes run by receivers. ‘Tight’ signifies condensed routes staying close to the line of scrimmage in the short to intermediate area of the field.

Why Use Coded Play Calls?

This breakdown shows why NFL teams use unique verbiage for their play calls. It allows the quarterback to communicate a complex play in just a few words. The players all understand the language used in their specific offense.

Coded play calls serve several key functions:

• Concision – Allows plays to be called quickly, even late in the play clock
• Clarity – Uses terminology all players understand to precisely execute assignments
• Deception – Unconventional phrasing hides the play design from opponents

While the system can seem cryptic to fans, it enables efficient communication for the offense. The ‘Scatter to West Right Tight’ play call sets up a spread formation focused on the right side, with receivers running short, quick-hitting routes. This analysis makes the method behind the madness of NFL play calling much clearer.

Examples of Other Common Play Calls

Each NFL team has its own play calling system and phrasing. Here are a few more examples of common play calls and their meanings:

• Ace Right 72 Y Stick – ‘Ace’ = 2 RB, 2 TE formation; ‘Right’ = TE strong side; ’72’ = pass protection; ‘Y Stick’ = tight end runs stick route

• Trips Left Flood – ‘Trips Left’ = 3 WR on left; ‘Flood’ = WRs run flood concept flooding one side

• Brown Right F Left 326 Rip Liz – ‘Brown Right’ = condensed WR formation; ‘F Left’ = FB moves left; ‘326’ = pass protection; ‘Rip Liz’ = TE runs corner route

• Blue Right Wham 27 Blast – ‘Blue Right’ = 3 WR with TE right; ‘Wham’ = FB blocks DE; ’27’ = run play; ‘Blast’ = RB run up middle

As we can see, while the wording seems cryptic at first, each term has a specific meaning. NFL play calling is a complex language all its own.

The Importance of Understanding Play Calls

For fans seeking to understand football strategy at a deeper level, decoding play calls unlocks part of the game’s intricate language. It reveals the structured communication coordinating 11 players on offense.

Play calling mechanics also provide insight into team’s offensive philosophies. Analyzing play call frequency and variety can show if a team leans pass or run-heavy, favors complex or simple schemes, and aims for power or finesse execution.

Just like learning any new language, grasping football play calling takes time and effort. But unlocking the meaning within this unique verbiage allows fans to gain a more detailed appreciation of the game’s technical side.

So next time you hear a play like ‘Scatter to West Right Tight’ called, focus on each component. With practice, the code will slowly reveal itself, bringing a whole new dimension of the sport into view.