Option on Me Best Option Call

Key n Outside Inverts – Area outside the Openside Tackle and the Tight End – Easy to understand defense and where to attack – Don’t have to count the “box” n Play call based upon the outside inverts – Inverts are players aligned at same level as inside linebackers n Allow your QB to make the choice at the LOS – Eyes outside to read inverts for best option Outside inverts = outside linebackers or safeties

Option on Me Benefits n Puts your offense in best play n Negates computerized scouting n Puts pressure on the defense – How do they take away all three options? – Option Game can control the “Box” n Can be used as a “hurry-up” offense

Basics n Keep QB reads simple – Basic formations – Defense must still consider all possible options n Use a Tight End – Gain an advantage without using motion n Motion can give your intentions away n Motion can create tendencies n QB’s eyes to the area outside the Openside Tackle and the Tight End Pre Snap Reads are not completed until the QB’s hands are under the center!

Outside Inverts n Area Outside Box – Box is from the hip of Openside Tackle to the Tight End n Two inverts = 6-man Box – Attack toward the Tight End QB will look to these areas for the best option and to understand how many defenders are aligned inside the box area. If both inverts are located outside, then 6- man box, thus, the Outside Invert Rule will dictate the best option.

Balance the Defense n Balanced formation allows defense to balance up n TE offense forces defense to be unbalanced n Count defenders using Outside Invert Rule – Has defense balanced itself up? An offense is most flexible and at its toughest point when it has two running backs, two wide receivers and a tight end!

Option Choices n Inside Veer – Openside (away from TE) – No invert outside the openside tackle – Only choice to the Openside n Midline – Tightside (to TE) – ONLY versus 2 or 3 Technique – 2 outside inverts = 6-man box  run at the box n Load – Tightside (to or outside TE) – No outside invert to the TE, or – 2 outside inverts versus 7-technique or 5 & 9 alignment 12 or or or 11 Jill

Rules - Inside Veer n No Outside Invert Weak – Run Inside Veer – Defense moves (reduce) to the Tight End n Defensive adjustment to stop Midline or Load – Defense moves to a scheme n Defensive Triangle Exists – Outside invert located outside Defensive End – Take option the other way 12 or 13 Put Inside Veer into a situation where the defense doesn’t have enough players to defend

Inside Veer – Defensive Triangle n Outside invert gives defense 3 to defend 3 – Defensive Triangle n Assume an inside veer release by OT can’t get the playside linebacker n Can break Defensive Triangle by formation and/or motion – For “Option on Me” called at the LOS keep formations basic – 2-backs, tight end, flanker and split end Must be able to break the triangle; defensive end, inside linebacker, and outside invert. Don’t put veer into defensive triangle

Inside Veer – No Outside Invert n No Outside Invert; No Defensive Triangle 2 to defend 3 Run Inside Veer

Inside Veer – QB’s Reads n Opens at 45°and reaches ball back as deep as possible to FB n Eyes to inside jersey number of 5 technique – Inside number comes down – pull [KEEP] n Defender taken dive – Inside number soft or working up field – GIVE ball to FB n 5 technique is always wrong

Rules - Midline n Outside Invert to Openside – Take option towards the Tight End 2 outside inverts = 6-man box  run at the box – Run at 2 or 3-technique only n Two blockers tracking playside linebacker to Free Safety – Base Blocking Rule = “10 or 11 Jill” 10 or 11 Jill Take option to TE Take option to TE 3-technique

Midline – Defensive Issues n Option game forces defense to balance up to defend the perimeter n Both inverts outside, then attack to Tight End – Defense has become unbalanced to defend the Midline and Load n FB runs at the midpoint of the center – Forces Defense to defend middle and both perimeters

Midline – Fold Scheme n Primary blocking scheme to TE = Jill Fold – Versus 7-technique or 5 / 9 alignment n Two blockers tracking Playside Linebacker to Free Safety 2 tracking FS PitchKey ReadKey

Midline – Base Scheme n Blocking scheme to TE = Base – Versus 9-technique with no down defender aligned on the Tackle n Free Safety becomes the Pitch Key Pitch Key ReadKey

Midline - QB’s Read n Read first defender (“T”) past the Center n Eyes on inside jersey number of T, if number: – Comes down (toward) pull - KEEP – Goes up field (away) – GIVE n QB runs off fold (“alley”) – Attack inside jersey number of outside invert

Midline Recap - QB n QB’s Footwork 1. Push parallel (“push away”) to LOS (negating penetration) 2. Step at 6 o’clock 3. Replace the 3-technique n Don’t look back at the FB and don’t take eyes off of read because it creates a bubble n Reach back as far as possible; QB rides ball past front hip holding more than ½ the ball – Mesh / Give or Disconnect

Midline Recap - Backs n FB show defenders jersey number and eyes – Dropping eyes = clamping ball harder n Pitch is going to occur down the field n TB runs at outside jersey number of outside invert – Don’t gain width, get downfield – Yell “ball, ball” once past the LOS

Midline Recap - Line n Alert call between the OT and TE – Trey combo, either Jill or Base – Fold TE behind OT, TE aiming outside jersey number of linebacker; if linebacker goes away track Free Safety n Playside Guard responsible inside # of playside linebacker – Harder you avoid, more the 3-technique squeezes n Inside flat step (grab grass) = “pick grass” – Aim at inside jersey number of Playside Linebacker – If linebacker goes away track Free Safety Track Playside Linebacker to Free Safety with 2 blockers

Rules - Load n Run to Tight End side only – Both inverts outside, but no 2 or 3-technique – No invert outside to the Tight End n Option off of the 9-technique – Whether on or off the LOS n Load alley player – 1 st player past the read key

Load – 2 nd Level n Trey combo with Tackle and Tight End – Allows the combo to rotate counter clockwise n Efficient position to track Playside Linebacker – Restricts flow of the playside defenders by creating a wall – Keeps the play from stretching n Trey combo (down) block against a 7-technique – No offensive lineman has to chase their 2 nd level defender Pitch Key Trey Slow Versus 7-Technique

Load – 1 st Level n Trey combo with Tackle and Tight End – TE must be blocking down; NOT out n Trey combo (down) block against a 5 / 9 alignment Pitch Key Trey Slow Versus 5 / 9 Alignment

Load – Versus 4-3 n Tight End reaching – Allows the defense to stretch the play n NO Trey combo versus a 3 & 9-technique n If no outside invert to openside – run Inside Veer n If outside invert to openside – run Midline Versus 9-Technique No Invert Inside Veer Play stretches Lineman chasing Better Choices

Load – QB’s Read n Backside foot at 45°, flash the ball (freeze defense for a step) then downhill running at read n Inside jersey number comes down – Taking the quarterback; pitch n Inside jersey number comes upfield – Taking the pitch; keep

Load Recap – QB n Option the 9-technique; the “read” – ON or OFF the LOS n Flash ball at Fullback n Get to the wall – Run downhill at the inside jersey number of the “read” n Pitch - inside number down or towards n Keep – inside number upfield or away

Load Recap – Backs n Block (“Load”) Alley Player – 1 st defender past the read, most likely Free Safety n Fullback’s track – 1-step at outside hip of guard – 2-step bounce outside at the inside jersey number of the 9- technique (“read”) n Either inside or outside to “load” alley defender – If inside number of the “read” comes down head to outside to “load” alley – Inside jersey number of the “read” goes upfield, bend inside to “load” alley n Tailback’s track – Drop step and get parallel to the LOS – Work to keep 4 & 1 pitch relationship with the quarterback

Load Recap - Line n Blocking schemes counter rotate – Play doesn’t stretch – wall LBers n Trey Combo with Tightside Tackle and Tight End – Down block on 7-technique or 5/9-techniques n Playside Guard – base block cannot allow penetration

Near Ear Rule n Near Ear is also known as a landmark n Block nearest ear of the down defender according to play call – Where you place your helmet – Base block to near ear n When making a “verbal alert call” – Never pull a covered lineman with you blocker’s helmet placement

13 Tight or Under Front LOAD n No Outside Invert to Tight End - LOAD – Don’t force Midline – NO 3-technique to Tight End n Pitch Key is the 9-technique – Fullback will “load” the Free Safety Trey Slow TT & TE to Playside Linebacker 5 & 9 NoSupport Pitch Key

13 Tight or Under Front INSIDE VEER n No Outside Invert to Openside – INSIDE VEER – Don’t force Midline – NO 3-technique to Tight End n Read is the Defensive End – Pitch will occur downfield Deuce Combo OT & OG to Playside Linebacker 5 & 9 NoSupport Read

Reading the Box – 4-3 n Run INSIDE VEER to openside – No invert; has moved inside the “box” n Can run LOAD option (to TE) because of 7-technique – Fullback will “load” Free Safety n Other Choices because Offense matches up with Defense – Lead, Zone, & Trap NoInvert Read

Reading the Box – 5-2 n Run INSIDE VEER to openside – No invert (same level as inside linebackers); has moved onto LOS n Can run LOAD option (to TE) because of 5 & 9-techniques – Fullback will “load” Free Safety n Other Choices because Offense matches up with Defense – Lead, Long Trap NoInvert Read

Reading the Box – 33 Double Eagle n Run INSIDE VEER to openside – No invert (same level as inside linebackers); cannot defend Triple Option n Can run LOAD option (to TE) because of 7-technique – Fullback will “load” Free Safety n Can run Midline option (to TE) because of 3-technique NoInvert Read

Reading the Box – 33 Split 6 n Run INSIDE VEER to openside n Run LOAD option (to TE) because of 5 & 9-techniques – No invert (same level as inside linebackers) – Fullback will “load” Free Safety n Run Midline option (to TE) because of 3-technique – Can run Midline option to openside because of 3-technique NoInvert Read Get Excited! – All Options are available NoInvert

Reading the Box – Bear 46 n Run LOAD option (to TE) because of 7-technique – No invert (same level as inside linebackers) – Fullback will “load” Free Safety n Can run Midline option (to TE) because of 3-technique – Fullback will read (cut-off) the “nose” on the give Read NoInvert

Reading the Box – 31 Tight or Solid n Run LOAD option (to TE) because of 5-technique – No invert (same level as inside linebackers) – Fullback will “load” Free Safety n Can run Midline option (to TE) because of 3-technique – Fullback will read (cut-off) the 1-technique on the give Read NoInvert

Recap n Quarterback follows Outside Invert Rules – Attack side with no outside invert n Openside – Inside Veer n Tightside – Load; unless 3 & 9-technique, then Midline – 2 outside inverts, then Midline versus 3-technique to the Tight End – 2 outside inverts and no 3-technique, then Load to the Tight End n Outside Invert Rule allows offensive line to counter rotate blocking schemes – Using the Near Ear Rule (helmet placement) away from the Point of Attack