One of treats Dana Holgorsen is going to spring upon the masses in just a few weeks for the spring game, and later, in just a few months, for the season, is his three-back set.

Oh, three-back sets are nothing new. Anyone who’s seen a wishbone or triple option or Maryland I or even Bruce Carey team play has seen three backs on the field at once. Why, WVU even did it on occasion last year in short-yardage and goal line sets.

Ah, but Holgorsen does it from the shotgun and, of course, with great success. Born out of  “sheer boredom” in his offseason at Oklahoma State, the “diamond” formation, as it came to be known, became that Cowboy’s best friend. (Sorry.)

Oddly enough — and isn’t this how things often work in football and in ingenuity? — the success came with a twist. Oklahoma State was to return to Holgorsen nice running backs and a very capable offensive line. The three-back set ended up doing just fine with the run, but Holgorsen actually predicted it would free up the passing game.

“We came up with the three-back system to isolate the outside guys,” Holgorsen said. “It’s easier for the quarterback to see if it’s man, one-on-one coverage when they’re all packed in as opposed to being spread out and those guys being able to disguise a bunch of stuff.”

Those guys would be the defenders and the diamond forced the defenses to play a little more transparent. By concentrating its personnel in the middle of the field and posing the possibility it can pass or run, the offense encourages the defense to make a decision.

“When you’ve got three backs in the backfield and the two wideouts go out, you’ve got to go out and cover the wideouts and take your chances stopping the three backs, or you have to drop a safety in and go one-on-one with your corners,” said WVU’s defensive coordinator, Jeff Casteel.