When they stop the OPTION whats next?

[Rebel Yell]

Coaches- here is a situation presented by Isrood.

Little background from Isrood "we are making the transition from a multiple I power team to a triple option team that is going to run the midline, triple, and outside veer. We already ran the WVU spread Zone Option and decided to committ to triple because of our personnel. We will still run out of the I, but will also run with double slots, TE/Wing/Slot , and unbalanced looks that coachveer has touted.

My suggestion for a situation would be for novice triple coaches like myself:

What do we fall back on when confronted with an off the wall defense that we might not be ready for or might not have the answers for because of our lack of experience. My main concern is, since we are new at the option, we will get into the following situation:

• We will run into something we don't recognize or don't realize what we should do to counter it.
  
  
• In our power offense I know what to look for and what to do to counter the different defenses we might see. I'm worried that in the heat of the moment I might not have quick answers when the same thing happens to the option.
  
  
• Do coaches have a tried & true formula or set of plays they fall back on when in trouble?
  
  
  

[burtledog]

I would say, particularly since the I will still have a place in your scheme, I would also install a double dive series. It can be run out of each of the sets you were talking of. The FB dive and QB steps looks just like IV (hit B and C, or can be run like Midline to hit A and B). There is a great article on running it from I and split backs on Coach Hueys board in the article section. It will look like a IV or Midline first, but it will result in the TB running into the second hole behind a blocker. It can be read to give to the FB(using Veer) or to the TB or can be called using different blocking schemes. It is a great way to put power into a very IV looking scheme and can be developed into a couple of great series of complementary plays. I am just a fan, but I have seen it work and many of the coaches around swear by it and use it as a large part of their offenses.
Greg

[colee]

Coach - unless you are just totally outmanned - there is no way for a team to completely stop the option. Here are a couple of suggestions:
1. if they are stopping your run game - someone is playing unsound - so find that defender and either run a counter to the area he just left or throw playaction to the area he just voided
2. use the count system - see where you have the numbers advantage
3. Check to see if they are cheating or rolling to motion - counter it
4. if they are overloading the box - run rocket
just some things we do - I hope it helps

[coachveer]

Most teams that stop us are given us 3 counts on both sides. When that happens we need to be able to run something no option in side the tackles. This could be trap/zone Dive/Counter iso. Most of the time we will pair these plays and run to a certain tech.

[kc361]

Our program's two cents...which is probably what the following information is worth.

As a flexbone option team, we always have 3 basic things in place if the defense is stopping the option.

(1) BEST OPTION PACKAGE. We run this when the defense is guessing and jumping in and out of different defenses or just adjusting the front/run support on every snap. Instead of the coaches guessing on the sidelines, we put the decision making in the hands of the QB. And if they want to stem, then we go on a LONG count. Let them shift, then we'll audible. Pretty soon, they'll stop stemming.

(2) INSIDE RUN. When teams are loading up the perimeter, we always have something to run inside, like dive, trap, whatever. Now, those ILBs who are trying to get outside, can't get there so quickly. Then, we hit 'em inside, then an option, then inside, then an option. Pretty soon, those LB's are having a tough time doing anything full speed.

(3) OUTSIDE RUN. When teams have compressed the front (like 5-2 double eagle), we always have something ready to run outside, like lead option or G-option, (some guys like the rocket toss). It really doesn't matter. Get a big play or two on the perimeter and they'll have to get an extra guy out there to defend you.

Just our way.

kc

[lsrood]

Thanks everyone for the great responses. I guess I am a little nervous about the transition (not waking up in cold sweats in the middle of the night yet--probably in August:o ) and am playing the "What If" game.

Special thanks to Coachveer who has been an invaluable asset and has done his best to explain it to an "option challenged" coach who as he put it "has come over to the darkside".

If any one else has advice I'm all ears.

[bkoption]

Just to echo what some other coaches have already said,

When we are not having success running the option or when the deffense is in an alignment that is not advantageous to running the option we want to run we fall back on a couple things.

1. Formations - we try to out formation the defense or create a numbers advatage using our formations. We will go unbalanced or to a trips to force the fronts or covereages we want to see.
2. Power Running Game (we haven't always had this and before we did we would struggle or spend the whole game looking for a formation that works) - We will run ISO, Power, Belly (wing T belly) and counter ISO.
3. Wide running Game - We run Fly (jet) sweep, Rocket and I'll go ahead and put our speed and other double options in here and even our bubble screens.
4. Counters - If a team is moving with our motion or slanting to motion or if the LB's are flying in a certain direction we will come back with some kind of counter to exploit there movement or over-reaction. This maybe twirl motion or a counter lead as well as play action passing.

colle touched on it nicely. unless you are outmanned there has to be an open or an un-sound part of the defense. There's too much of the field to defend.

kc361 also touched on an important aspect in the "best option" or "option on me" audible packages. These are especially helpful early in the game when your still figuring out the defense and when the defense is jumping from front to front. We hardly ever call an option without at least 1 tag. most of the time we use our 4 play package which is the IV, OV, Mid and off tackle power.

I'm still amazed at what happens at times when running the option. There are times when we don't block a soul and the play goes for 20 yards. Sometimes when I am grading out the positions we will have 9 -'s and only 2 +'s (+ did job, - got whipped, 0 missed asignmnet) and the play was very sucsesful. Then the next play we have 10 ='s and the 1 - gets you stopped for a loss. I guess that's just football.

Irood, it's good to have anopther option guy out there. Welcome

[coachveer]

See Irood,
old dog new trick..

[jno]

Hello evrybody , i'm new here & i'm also novice option coach , we just go to the option this season and we enjoy great succes!!!! I'coach a junior french team , we are qualified for the playoff first round , I think we are the only team to run the option here!

We don't face the level of play you face evry week but ,just what it's worth, when defense start to stop our option play :
1:we go the counter off option look : it's always a big play for us!
2: we do a serie of wing-t play : buck, buck-swweep and waggle , to "fixer"( sorry for my english) the defense
3: we change formation, and see what happen to the defensive front and cover, generaly in our league defense go man cov 1 or cov 0 we try to exploit it we quick passing game isolating our spilt end to the wide side

[midsfan]

Coach,
I think someone said this but, I'll elaborate. The passing game. My suggestion is to never use this as a last resort. If you use your passing game (playaction or drop back) it is very easy to keep them off balance. In other words don't be afraid to throw a playaction pass early in the first quarter. Keep in mind that that team has been preparing for the option all week. Most of the time, it is drilled into a defense's head who they have. This becomes monotonous and you can sneak you Slot Backs and Wide Receivers behind the defense for a big gain.
Let me know if you have any questions.

[bkoption]

Good point midsfan.

I spent some time up in colorado springs a couple april's ago. One of the things Coach Peterson (Old Air Force OC, like I need to tell you guys) said is that he has one of their coaches remind him to throw the ball on first and ten and throw on Possesion and ten.

[coachveer]

midsfan said:

Coach,
I think someone said this but, I'll elaborate. The passing game. My suggestion is to never use this as a last resort. If you use your passing game (playaction or drop back) it is very easy to keep them off balance. In other words don't be afraid to throw a playaction pass early in the first quarter. Keep in mind that that team has been preparing for the option all week. Most of the time, it is drilled into a defense's head who they have. This becomes monotonous and you can sneak you Slot Backs and Wide Receivers behind the defense for a big gain.
Let me know if you have any questions.

We think the best time to throw PAP is on 1st and 10.