Niners have the most bunched up offensive formations in the NFL

I often say the WSJ is the best sports periodical. Excellent example of that today. "The 49ers Defy Modern Football" googling the title may enable you to read it.

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It basically says the 49ers run the tightest offensive formations in the NFL:19.9 yards wide. KC is average at 24.6. Bills were widest at 26.9.

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For one thing, there is an advantage to just being different. One of my books is titled the Contrarian Advantage for Football Offense. It about being very different from any other offense in your league. Also about football jiu-jitsu which means altering your offense for a particular opponent by identifying their strengths and turning them into weaknesses. Easier said than done but we have some local powerhouses that you ain't gonna beat without some sort of radical approach like de la Salle High School and Serra High School.

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The Journal article makes some claims that I am not certain I agree with. They say the tight formations create more of a running threat which makes defenses less sure if you are running or passing.

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Seems to me a bunched offense draws a bunched defense. My Gap-Air-Mirror Defense uses the word "mirror" to indicate that our DBs and LBs essential mirror the offensive formation.

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I think it may be easier to run against a spread out defense. They seemed to say it is easier to pass out of the bunched offensive. That may be true because the DBs and LBs have to be looking for the run and the receivers have lots of open space to which to run.

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The Journal says play-action runs are more believable out of the bunch which makes play-action pass plays more successful. I'll buy that.

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In general, I think the Journal may be giving too much credit to the formation. The 49ers also make extraordinary use of motion. And they have some great players who make coaches and teammates look better.

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For example, are opposing defenses more concerned about the run because of the formation or because they running back is McCaffrey? Or the combination of both?