LETS TALK DEFENSE FOR A WHILE.

[tripleoption61]

IF YOU WERE FACING YOURSELF HOW WOULD YOU DEFEND IT? WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY? WOULD YOU OPTION STUNT OR TRY AND PLAY IT STRAIGHT UP?

STEM THE D-LINE?
MULTIPLE FRONTS?
ROTATING SECONDARY?
ETC.....

[Rebel Yell]

one thing I would do for sure is stem the Dline, to screw with the Midline/Veer call/read.

[tripleoption61]

THAT DOES SCREW US UP FOR A WHILE. WE START GOING ON DIFFERENT COUNTS WHEN TEAMS DO THAT TO US. I THINK I WOULD OPTION STUNT US. I WOULD ALSO MIX UP WITH PLAYING IT STARIGHT UP. I WOULD FORCE US TO RUN TO THE BOUNDRY.

[midline2]

I agree TO61 teams that can add in a few option stunts combined with playing a sound option defense often is most succesful against us.

[bkoption]

I have always felt that when defending the triple option, whatever front and coverage you use, the defense should force the option to go through all phases, meaning force the pull then force the pitch. When there are no more "options" all 11 defenders can run to the football. If I was defending myself I would take the FB everytime but I would take an angle right at the mesh to do it. use the mesh charge but take (tackle) the FB everytime. One of the teams in our league (used to be a wish bone team themselves) "slow play" the pithc phase of the option. It gives us fits so that's what I will do to the pitch phase. By slow play I mean the read doesn't commit fully to either phase, he sits (in front of the QB so he can take him easily) and when the pitch is made he takes a good angle back down the line and tackles the RB inside out. This really works when we have that QB who likes to pitch a little early.

The one thing I would never do is give myself any kind of Even front, I woud always cover the center and probably give a Nose Mike LB stack to limit the chances to Double my nose.

[tripleoption61]

DEFINITELY. ALSO ANOTHER THING THAT I HEAR FROM OTHER COACHES IS THAT THEY TRY TO STOP THE PITCH PHASE OF THE OPTION. THEY SAY ITS WHERE THE BIG PLAY HAPPENS. WHICH MAY BE TRUE BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THE BEST ATHLETE ON MY TEAM IS MY QB. IF HE IS CARRYING THE BALL IN OPEN FIELD I'M HAPPY AS HECK. WE PLAYED A TEAM WHEN I WAS IN ILLINOIS AND THEY WERE A SPREAD OPT. TEAM AND THEY WERE OVERLY CONCERNED WITH THE PITCH. MY QB (WHO NOW IS AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS AS A STRONG SAFETY ) GASHED THEM FOR 175 YDS. COULDN'T BE HAPPIER IF THEY GIVE ME THE QB RUNNING

[bkoption]

I feel that when the pitch and even the QB breaks free a lot of defenders probably have an angle on him and can get to the tackle. When our FB breaks free there are not many good pursuit angles on him. One thing that we always try and do is put our best running back at the FB (he is usually the fastest also) This makes for big play opportunities in all phases of our option

[tripleoption61]

that is true but for us my qb's in the past have been exceptional athletes. they always were dangerous in the open field. I think they have more open field to operate as opposed to the pitch man. gives them more room for cuts and big plays