Goal line formation

[dudebro420mang]

What is the typical goal line formation that we use?

I got a copy of Football Outsider's scouting report pdf book and it says we use

Base 35%
(which is why 3rd linebacker isn't a big deal and needs to play special teams. (Same with Fasano as second string TE only plays like 19% of snaps not including spelling the 1st string TE)
Nickel 60%
Dime + (dime and prevent) 2% of the time (we also only rushed fewer than 4 pass rushers 4.8% of the time)
Goal line 2%
"Big" Some number low enough to round to 0% but with at least 1 play run.

I am assuming big is 3 DBs? Do you know what formations like how many linemen/backers we run when we run fewer than 4 dbs?

 

[Aqua Shadow]

Could be wrong but I believe big could be referencing big nickel. From what I have gathered it removes a linebacker for a safety, instead of a nickel corner. Please correct me if I'm mistaken.

I'm very interested in the sub packages for defense since it seems like they have been evolving in the past decade or two

 

[dudebro420mang]

Could be wrong but I believe big could be referencing big nickel. From what I have gathered it removes a linebacker for a safety, instead of a nickel corner. Please correct me if I'm mistaken.

I'm very interested in the sub packages for defense since it seems like they have been evolving in the past decade or two

I found the definition in the book. A "big" formation is a 4-4-3 or a 3-5-3 formation. Basically an extra linebacker formation. Where as they define goal line as anything with fewer than 4 dbs that isn't one of their "big" formations. I wonder why they make that distinction?