Mike Kafka has recently employed stacked wide receiver formations, typically to the boundary. Here’s how it’s been successful
The New York Giants have successfully incorporated an efficient passing attack into their offensive approach that is not predicated on the play-action pass. Through much of the 2022 NFL season, the Giants passing game was set up by their rushing attack.
Mike Kafka used the athletic ability of Daniel Jones and the propensity of opposing defensive coordinators to focus on Saquon Barkley as a means to throw the ball. Play action bootlegs and rollouts with crossing routes over the middle of the field were a common sight through much of the season.
However, the Giants have transitioned their offense to a more 11 personnel-based quick game passing attack. They’re finding success through the air, and quarterback Daniel Jones has done well quickly diagnosing defenders.
Since the bye week, the Giants started using wide receivers in a stack to give receivers a free release and cause coverage miscommunications. Here’s an example of a mirrored stack:
(Coaching insiders)
One receiver is aligned on the line of scrimmage and the second receiving option is behind him. Recently the Giants have employed boundary (short side of field) stacks with quick passing concepts to take advantage of man and zone coverage.
This formation has led to a few blown coverages against match defenses, and it gives Jones a simplified half-field read, especially when the running back is released to the boundary side.
To some garbage time success, the Giants flirted with stacking their wide receivers in their blow-out loss against Detroit. New York expanded its use of boundary stacks over the last two weeks against Minnesota and Indianapolis, and they’ve successfully moved the football.
Here’s a quick video of the Giants’ recent success using stacked formations.