But that got me thinking and I started playing around with the formation shifts tool and had a realization. Since there's a limit to how many formations we can have in a book, I think I found a way to use formation shifts to shift several players at once into a different formation. Like for example if I started in a 3WR 1TE 1RB set with all players out wide, 2 on the LOS, 3 off, and then say shifted the HB to the right, and in doing that had the HB move back into the backfield and had the WRs shift over, then that would essentially shift the formation from an empty set to a trips/trey/bunch set depending on how the WRs were grouped.
Or for another example, sticking with the same 3WR/1TE/1RB if the TE was on the LOS next to the RT and I shifted him to the right but had two WRs move next to him, essentially creating a Bunch formation.
Basically I'm experimenting to see if it's possible to use Formation Shifts to go from one 3WR/1TE/1RB set to a number of other. I don't see this as an illegal shift because all sub-formations will be kept in accordance with the 7-man on the LOS rule and even though multiple players are moving I see this as more of a formation-audible than an illegal shift. Seeing as I'm not purposefully doing this to create illegal formations and solely for the purpose of subverting the limit on formations I'm fine with it. This is essentially just calling an audible from one formation to another without wasting a formation spot.
The only nuances of this that I can see will be marking which plays in the formation are for which shift set, making sure the routes line up with the shifted play I'm using and working out whether routes flip if a WR moves across the formation and how to work around that. Oh, and seeing if I can call a run play off an empty formation after shifting the HB into the backfield. Here are some of the examples of what I plan on trying.
Gun Empty Quads - Base formation 3WR / 1TE / 1HB all out wide
Gun Bunch Quads - TE Shift Right
Gun Trey Y-Flex Str - HB Shift Left
(This formation is from the Chiefs playbook and contains the infamous Jet Chip Wasp play)
Gun Stack Y-Flex - HB Shift Right
These are just a few examples I'm starting with to see if this is at all practical. Afterwards if everything works as I hope I'll go and try other formations. Maybe a Y-Wing formation that can shift into a T-Form and Wing T, or Split back, or Near/Far sets. I feel like the possibilities to get creative are endless if this works. I'll report back on my findings.