Personnel groupings are groups of players used in American Football to distinguish the different types of skill position players on the field of play for an offense. Teams use personnel groupings in order to set a base for most of their plays, as well as being able to send out players in a timely manner during a game. Usually personnel groupings are differentiated using a numerical system to set apart the running backs, wide receivers, fullbacks, and tight ends.
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Formations
The groupings used in different formations can vary depending on what the coach and offense want to do, but there are generally different types of personnel used for either a running or passing play. However, given their complimentary nature, it is not uncommon to pass out of a run personnel grouping or vice versa. The goal is to create favorable match-ups and force the defense to adjust and react while controlling the clock.
Numerical Naming
When naming a personnel grouping, a specific number system is used to refer to the amount of running backs and tight ends on the field. For example, if there is one running back and two tight ends, the grouping would be called a 12 personnel. On the other hand, if there are two running backs and one tight end, the grouping is referred to as a 21 personnel. This allows you to determine how many receivers to use, based on how many players are allowed on the field of play for the offensive side of the ball. Defenses are also able to match substitutions that will allow them to match up more favorably against whatever personnel group that is used by the offense. In the NFL 51.62% is the league average for teams that use an 11 personnel package, meaning that there would be three wide receivers out on the field. Moreover, the past few years the NFL has transitioned to a more pass heavy league, which can explain a league average that has a personnel grouping with multiple passing options for the Quarterback.
Examples from NFL
The NFL and the sport itself are always changing and teams are constantly trying to gain a competitive advantage by adapting and executing new concepts. One of the most popular offensive schemes is the West Coast offense, popularized by three time Super Bowl winning coach Bill Walsh. This offense requires short and intermediate passing plays that will then require the defense to react and adjust accordingly, thus allowing you to run the ball and have more success in that area of your offense. Within the West Coast offense, personnel groupings are very prevalent and due to a high volume of passing plays within the offense a lot of skill positions that can catch and give the Quarterback multiple options to go to with the ball are important. Personnel groupings give teams ability to create plays that give them success, and as the West Coast offense has proved with its many different iterations that teams have used; the ability to win games.