Option Football

[HulkaManiaRunninWild]

What's your remedy for stopping a very good option football team?

 

[Durden]

Speed option or full blown 3 option (with the fullback) option? D Set? O formation? Leading with a pulling guard?

In general the main thing is to keep the DE from getting hooked and making the QB pitch it (the sooner the better). Resosponsibilities, and running to the ball once your man no longer has it are big as well. Oh, and speed, speed, speed!

 

[kshead]

Break the QB's leg.

 

[The Brain]

What's your remedy for stopping a very good option football team?

STOPPING or slowing down?

How good is their O-Line? Who's faster the QB or the RB? is it a multi RB system? What formation do they use the option in? Can the QB throw effectively as well?

 

[HulkaManiaRunninWild]

All good questions.

Probably the best way to stop the option (at least after the QB has made the decision not to give the ball to the FB) is to play the numbers game. Option football relies heavily on creating mismatches. For example, 2 offensive players v.s. 1 defensive player. I've seen some teams keep 2 defenders outside the last offensive man on the LOS. Worked well, however, they quickly resorted to running the trap, dive, and isolation. They did stop the option, however.

From a personal standpoint I like spreading the defense, getting in the Gun with 1 back in the back field, and running speed option. The great thing about SO from the gun and spread formation is that if the defense puts 2 defenders out the last man on the LOS you can block it full zone. If only 1 defender outside the last man on the LOS you can down block/combo and pitch off of him. Great scheme. Many division 1 colleges are now doing this with a lot of great success.

 

[The Brain]

Here's something you might consider. A lot of it depends on if your QB can read the defense too. And if you have 2 RBs that are capable of putting up yards. In this You line your most powerful RB up behind the QB. Set one RB up to look like a close Nickel Receiver. Now when the QB sees the defense is weak up the middle (LBers cheating to the outside) he can audible hand off to the RB directly behind him in an effort to exploit a weak inside due to lack of LBer support. The default play should run like this though. The QB fakes to the power back. While this fake is going on the RB that lined up in the recieving slot breaks looking as if he's headed to run block. The QB then follows a similar route as the RB that was in the slot. And at that point whether the QB hands off or takes it himself is totally depended on how the play is unfolds. the WR in this are pretty much used as blockers and can be set in any formation. The RB in the slot has to be considered a viable recieving threat. If not you may want to consider using a WR as part of the option if you feel he has solid running skills.

I apologize for the crude drawing.

 

[rake]

crude drawing.

When your name is "The Brain" do you just need 10 guys?

 

[HulkaManiaRunninWild]

Here's something you might consider. A lot of it depends on if your QB can read the defense too. And if you have 2 RBs that are capable of putting up yards. In this You line your most powerful RB up behind the QB. Set one RB up to look like a close Nickel Receiver. Now when the QB sees the defense is weak up the middle (LBers cheating to the outside) he can audible hand off to the RB directly behind him in an effort to exploit a weak inside due to lack of LBer support. The default play should run like this though. The QB fakes to the power back. While this fake is going on the RB that lined up in the recieving slot breaks looking as if he's headed to run block. The QB then follows a similar route as the RB that was in the slot. And at that point whether the QB hands off or takes it himself is totally depended on how the play is unfolds. the WR in this are pretty much used as blockers and can be set in any formation. The RB in the slot has to be considered a viable recieving threat. If not you may want to consider using a WR as part of the option if you feel he has solid running skills.

I apologize for the crude drawing.

Interesting. I like your drawing, too.

What blocking scheme would you utilize?

 

[HulkaManiaRunninWild]

"If not you may want to consider using a WR as part of the option if you feel he has solid running skills."




We have utilized a wide out in our spread formations using orbit motionto run option. Very similar to the inside zone that you seen run in the NFL with the orbit motion to hold the backside 5 technique. Good Stuff!

 

[magnus]

haven't read the responses but it seems like playing good solid contain with your contain man and playing pursuit well as a team will shut it down. There's the obvious suggestion (teaching the QB and RB tendencies, teaching formations it comes from, what situations most used, etc) of learning the guts of their operation, but if contain forces the pitch, pursuit strings the play out and gets to the corner, it should be stopped.

More succintly, penetration would stop it. Successful blitzing of B gap or stunting that side could cause potentially big plays (unfortunately, either way of course), or at least an early pitch.





My biggest pisser as a young player was the wishbone. That three backs thing always got me, if they led with two I'd tackle the second. Then the ball would go by. Apparently, I wasn't creating a pile by doing this.