Option from the Spread Leesville Road Football David Green, Head Coach 919-870-4250, 919-280-3723 cgreen@wcpss.net

Advantages One defensive lineman is always “blocked” by the QB Allows us to get a numbers advantage Allows for different types of personnel Don’t need to have tight end, fullback, tailback Can get by with smaller linemen Can run it with different types of QBs One that throws well, runs OK One that runs well, throws OK

More Advantages Forces defenses to play “honest” Secondary must help on run, opens up passing game Defense must be disciplined, carry out assignments for dive, QB, pitch and pass Create running lanes by spreading the defense Quarterback takes fewer hits than option under center Read is easier for QB than under center Read is not as “quick”

Alignment QB aligns at 4 ½ yards Running back aligns at 5 yards Should be between guard and tackle Wide Receiver on bottom of numbers Slot Receiver and H-back align halfway between tackle and WR

Splits Three foot splits for OG and OT Move down one foot if uncovered Helps with double teams Widen one foot if covered Opens running lanes Only the guards are in 3 point stance Helps guards with run block 2 point stance helps tackles with pass block

Splits

When to Run or Pass Five in the box—RUN! Six in the box—Run or pass This is what we encounter most Seven in the box—Throw the ball Or move another offensive player into the box Two back formation Tight end or wingback

Our Play Calls We are a no-huddle team Much of the season, we played at a two-minute pace We call most plays at the line of scrimmage We use names for plays Presidents, types of dogs, cars, etc QB must vary the calls We use another call for direction

Play 1: Basic Gun Triple Dive option from the gun QB aligns at 4 ½ yards After taking the snap, he should open towards the running back Eyes on first lineman on or outside the OT Extend the ball out over his back foot Transfer weight to front foot and ride the running back as he comes through

Dive Read Dive read is first lineman on or outside the tackle He is almost always aligned outside the tackle If the read closes hard on the dive back, QB pulls If he can’t get to the back, give the ball Sometimes, we may change the read to whether or not he can tackle the QB if we think they are weaker outside

Reads QB should pull by the time the running back crosses parallel QB accelerates to inside shoulder of the next defender Try to get north-south as soon as possible Run to daylight “You see green grass, get in it quickly” If the defender takes QB, then pitch Once defender can’t get to the pitch back

Running back steps Running back aligns at 5 yards Between Offensive guard and Offensive tackle First step is toward the QB Something of a slide step Shoulders square Important so he can make cut Don’t let them take shortcut—make them take this step with shoulders square Make pocket, eyes on aiming point “A” gap It is the back’s responsibility to run over the football Second step is forward Accelerate once he sees the hole

Aiming Point Running back’s aiming point is “A” gap He will break to where pressure to close the gap comes from If “A” gap is closed by 3 technique, he will break back under the defensive end If “A” gap is closed by a nose guard aligned opposite, he will break to the backside If “A” gap is closed by a nose guard aligned play side, he will break away from the nose guard to open space

Breaking under DE We want to work on having him break back under the defensive end This is where it opens most This is where it opens for biggest gains This is the most difficult thing to teach Unless he’s a natural, you must rep it constantly

Pitch Back and Motion Pitch Relationship The pitch back is to get to a point one yard deeper than the QB and 5 yards outside the QB No matter where he comes from, he must get to that point by the time the QB is ready to pitch Must rep this constantly Vary the types of motion to confuse the defense Otherwise, they can defend you according to formation For example, you always pitch away from the H-back

“Happy” motion Normal motion from the H-back position H-back will aim for a spot one yard behind the QB Back goes into motion on the count before the snap Example: “set….hit”, he goes on set QB calls for snap (“hit”) when back is behind the tackle If you snap on “two”, back goes in motion on “one” Maintain proper pitch relationship throughout the play Catch the ball running north-south at full speed

Triple (Happy Motion)

“Back Up” Back is not in motion Much more difficult to master H-back takes 3 to 4 steps back and slightly inward on the snap Different backs may have to vary their steps Watch the QB, time your steps to get relationship Then back comes forward as QB approaches to get in pitch relationship One yard behind, five yards outside

Triple (Back Up)

Coaching Points Pitch back should be accelerating full speed when he catches the pitch Biggest danger is in being too wide Second biggest problem is getting ahead of the QB Responsibility for being in the right spot and timing it properly is the H-backs

“Twirl” H-back begins normal motion as in “Happy” When the ball is snapped, he plants his inside foot, opens his hips and drop steps with his other foot He will get in pitch relationship in the direction he started from He keeps his eyes on the QB at all times This is not difficult to master and helps confuse the defense Some teams make major adjustments to motion, this causes them problems or at least forces them to slow down the adjustment

Triple (Twirl Motion)

“Two gun” No motion is required from this formation Two running backs, aligned at 5 yards, between the OG and OT Pitch back must gain depth with his first step Get into pitch relationship Many defenses will put an extra defender in the box

Gun Triple (Two gun)

“Empty” From an empty set, we motion to the running back position As he approaches the running back position, have him square his shoulders The pitch will have to be back up

Gun Triple (Empty)

Blocking Playside We will double team (combo) the down lineman on the side of the play 2 or 3 technique will be doubled by the playside tackle and guard 0 or 1 technique will be doubled by the center and playside guard We want to run through the double team to the linebacker “Get under his pads and run”

Blocking Backside We will also double team a noseguard backside We want to run through the double team to the backside linebacker If we have a 3 technique backside, the backside guard blocks him out Backside tackle blocks out This is the biggest difference from option blocking under center—you can’t send the backside tackle downfield Back may cut that direction

Blocking Rules Center: Double noseguard to LB Playside guard: double lineman on or inside to linebacker If no lineman, go to linebacker Playside tackle: double lineman inside to linebacker Backside guard: lineman on or inside If inside, double to linebacker Backside tackle: lineman on or outside

Receivers Blocking Receivers block the man on them Slot receiver to play side can block safety and leave the man on him as the pitch read Count defenders from offensive tackle out Leave #2 for pitch read We usually tell him to make the easiest block Be sure to get one of them

Coaching Points We do option drill every day until the season starts Three days a week once games begin Plus pre-game on game day You must practice the reads and relationships religiously to run the option We can get under center in the I with very slight adjustments

Gun Triple

Gun Triple “Twirl”

Play 2: Gun triple trap Many people run the gun triple option to the backside They just zone block it Very effective We prefer to trap the backside We get an extra blocker to that side by pulling a backside lineman Can run it without a great back who has “vision”

Gun Triple Trap

Alignment, Reads, Motion Alignment, steps for backs are the same as for the basic gun triple Except running back lines up on backside rather than on playside Helps confuse the defense Lets us run to the shade-5 bubble Quarterback’s reads are the same Possible formations, motions are the same

Aiming Point Aiming point of the running back changes Once he gets the ball, he follows the pulling lineman We will pull either the backside guard or tackle (if guard is covered) Kick out the defensive end Ball will be run to the side away from the running back

Reading the block If the pulling lineman kicks out the defensive end, back cuts up inside the block If the pulling lineman has to log block the defensive end, the back will cut to the outside It is important that the back take his slide step in order not to get to the hole too fast If he takes a short cut, he won’t be in position to read the block

Blocking Playside We will again double team (combo) the down lineman on the side of the play 2 or 3 technique will be doubled by the playside tackle and guard 0 or 1 technique will be doubled by the center and playside guard We want to run through the double team to the linebacker “Get under his pads and run”

Blocking Backside We will pull the guard on the backside The center would take the backside nose The tackle will then get to the next level Try to cut off the LB, if not go to safety Always teach linemen to work to next level If the guard is covered, he will block the lineman covering him The tackle will then pull and kickout the defensive end

Rules Center: blocks base (usually noseguard) Playside guard: double lineman on or inside to linebacker If no lineman, go to linebacker Playside tackle: double lineman inside to linebacker Backside guard: pull and kickout DE if uncovered Block lineman if covered Backside tackle: pull and kickout DE if guard is covered Block LB to safety if guard is uncovered Backside guard makes call to backside tackle “You—me”, etc

Receivers Blocking Receivers block the man on them Slot receiver to play side can block safety and leave the man on him as the pitch read Count defenders from offensive tackle out Leave #2 for pitch read We usually tell him to make the easiest block Be sure to get one of them

Pitch Back Pitch back is opposite side from basic triple This will affect your formation (depending on type of motion used) Backs will eventually learn to use the proper motion based on formation The pitch back knows to be in a certain spot and must get there One yard behind QB, 5 yards outside We begin practice by calling the motions for them Once they learn it, we don’t call it

Triple Trap

Play 3: Speed Option Alignment is the same Running back is the pitch back Gets depth with first step Get into pitch relationship quickly Eyes on the quarterback in case he has to pitch quickly Quarterback runs at the inside shoulder of the first man outside the tackle Pitch as soon as that defender can not get to the pitch back Turn upfield if the defender goes to the pitch

Speed Option

Blocking Playside We will again double team (combo) the down lineman on the side of the play 2 or 3 technique will be doubled by the playside tackle and guard 0 or 1 technique will be doubled by the center and playside guard We want to run through the double team to the linebacker “Get under his pads and run”

Rules Center: lineman on or backside gap to backside linebacker Playside guard: double lineman on or inside to linebacker If no lineman, go to linebacker Playside tackle: double lineman inside to linebacker Backside guard: base block (lineman on or backside backside gap to LB) Backside tackle: Seal inside Make sure lineman does not crash hard inside Get to next level

Receivers Blocking All receivers must block the man on them Slot receiver must block the man on him This is the key block Run off defenders versus man Can be excellent run play versus man This can be good in trips if you can get number advantage

Speed Option

Play 4: Slot Trap We use the slot receiver in motion to make a kickout block Motion just behind line of scrimmage Ball should be snapped as he reaches the backside tackle QB takes same steps, make same read as in base triple or triple trap RB comes across just like in trap Running back reads the trap block by receiver H-back is the pitch back Use any motion or set to get him into pitch position

Slot Trap

Blocking Playside We will again double team (combo) the down lineman on the side of the play 2 or 3 technique will be doubled by the playside tackle and guard 0 or 1 technique will be doubled by the center and playside guard We want to run through the double team to the linebacker “Get under his pads and run”

Rules Center: blocks base (usually nose guard) Playside guard: double lineman on or inside to linebacker If no lineman, go to linebacker Playside tackle: double lineman inside to linebacker Backside guard: double lineman on or inside to to linebacker Backside tackle: double lineman inside to linebacker

Receivers Slot receiver will trap first lineman on or outside our OT Kick him out if possible Log block if he closes down H-back will be the pitch back Wide receivers will block man on

Slot Trap

Play 5: Counter Read We make the same dive read on the counter Alignment is the same on the counter as on the trap Running back lines up backside We do not have to worry about formation Pitch back is not needed No motion is required We will sometimes use motion to confuse the defense

Counter Read

Pass not Pitch We throw rather than run pitch option off of this QB has run or pass option after making dive read Bootleg type play You can run this with a pitch option if you want Pitch would be just like in trap

Backfield Action QB opens to the running back and makes read just as in the triple Running back begins by taking a jab step to the outside Then comes across in front of the QB on mesh Follow pulling linemen to the hole Both guard and tackle will pull Read guard’s block and follow tackle into the hole

Quarterback outside After the mesh, the QB will take a deep drop step to gain depth He will hide his hands on his hips and bootleg to outside Initial read on the pass will be the defender lined up on the slot receiver If he comes up on QB, throw to slot If he stays back, run the ball May also throw to wide receiver if corner comes up

Routes Slot receiver will run hitch initially Then slide to outside into open space as the play develops As linebackers from inside move outside, slide away from them Create a passing lane for QB Outside wide receiver will run “banana” route Start inside as if to block safety, then break back to deep corner Play is slow developing, so there is plenty of time—don’t rush into the route

“Tommy” call If the running back does not get the ball, he will make a call for the lineman We use “Tommy”—the QB’s name When linemen hear this, they know it is a pass and do not go downfield We’ve never been called for lineman downfield Playside receivers will run pass route only if they hear the call—otherwise they block for the run Inside receiver will drag Wide receiver will post

Blocking We will block down with all linemen on the playside and pull all linemen from the backside Center will block first lineman headup to backside He will have to step deep if there is a 3 technique backside Toughest block he has to make Have to rep it to avoid collision Only has to get a good piece of 3 technique

Rules Playside guard: Block down, lineman to linebacker If there is no lineman between the guard and headup the center, go to backside linebacker Playside tackle: Block down, lineman to linebacker If there is no lineman between the tackle and headup the guard, go to playside linebacker Backside guard: Pull and kick out first lineman on or past OT If defender closes down, log him

Rules for backside tackle Backside tackle: Pull and lead into hole If guard kicks out, cut up inside If guard logs, go outside Block the first thing that shows Expect the backside linebacker Pull slightly deeper than the guard This gives him room to maneuver Never let the other color cross your face If leakage occurs, take it out

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