Option on Me

Best Option Call

Key

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”

Play call based upon the outside inverts– Inverts are players aligned at same level as inside

linebackers 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

Puts your offense in best play Negates computerized scouting Puts pressure on the defense

– How do they take away all three options?– Option Game can control the “Box”

Can be used as a “hurry-up” offense

Basics

Keep QB reads simple– Basic formations– Defense must still consider all possible options

Use a Tight End– Gain an advantage without using motion

Motion can give your intentions away Motion can create tendencies

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

Area Outside Box– Box is from the hip of Openside Tackle to the Tight End

Two inverts = 6-man Box– Attack toward the Tight End

E T T

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Inside Veer Midline Load

Six-man Box

ETT

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Inside VeerMidlineLoad

Six-man Box

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

Balanced formation allows defense to balance up

TE offense forces defense to be unbalanced Count defenders using Outside Invert Rule

– Has defense balanced itself up?

An offense is most flexible and at its An offense is most flexible and at its toughest point when it has two running toughest point when it has two running

backs, two wide receivers and a tight end!backs, two wide receivers and a tight end!

Option Choices

Inside Veer – Openside (away from TE)– No invert outside the openside tackle– Only choice to the Openside

Midline – Tightside (to TE)– ONLY versus 2 or 3 Technique– 2 outside inverts = 6-man box run at the box

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 13

18 or 19

10 or 11 Jill

Rules - Inside Veer

No Outside Invert Weak – Run Inside Veer– Defense moves (reduce) to the Tight End

Defensive adjustment to stop Midline or Load– Defense moves to a 4 - 3 scheme

Defensive Triangle Exists– Outside invert located outside Defensive End– Take option the other way

12 or 13

Put Inside Veer into a situation where thePut Inside Veer into a situation where thedefense doesn’t have enough players to defenddefense doesn’t have enough players to defend

Inside Veer – Defensive Triangle Outside invert gives defense 3 to defend 3

– Defensive Triangle Assume an inside veer release by OT can’t get the playside linebacker 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

E T T

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S1

23

1

2

3

Must be able to break the triangle; defensive end, inside linebacker, and outside invert.

Don’t put veer into defensive triangleDon’t put veer into defensive triangle

Inside Veer – No Outside Invert

No Outside Invert; No Defensive Triangle

E T T

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1

2

3

1

2

2 to defend 3

Run Inside VeerRun Inside Veer

Inside Veer – QB’s Reads

Opens at 45°and reaches ball back as deep as possible to FB

Eyes to inside jersey number of 5 technique

– Inside number comes down – pull [KEEP]

Defender taken dive– Inside number soft or working up

field – GIVE ball to FB 5 technique is always wrong

T

W

E

F

Give

Keep

E T T

R W M

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C C

F

S

1

2

3

Rules - Midline 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 Two blockers tracking playside linebacker to Free Safety

– Base Blocking Rule = “10 or 11 Jill”

10 or 11 Jill

Take option to TETake option to TE

3-technique

Midline – Defensive Issues

Option game forces defense to balance up to defend the perimeter

Both inverts outside, then attack to Tight End– Defense has become unbalanced to defend the Midline

and Load

FB runs at the midpoint of the center– Forces Defense to defend middle and both perimeters

E T T

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Midline – Fold Scheme

Primary blocking scheme to TE = Jill Fold– Versus 7-technique or 5 / 9 alignment

Two blockers tracking Playside Linebacker to Free Safety

2 tracking FS2 tracking FS

PitchPitchKeyKey

ReadReadKeyKey

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Midline – Base Scheme

Blocking scheme to TE = Base– Versus 9-technique with no down defender aligned on the Tackle

Free Safety becomes the Pitch Key

Pitch KeyPitch Key

ReadReadKeyKey

Midline - QB’s Read

Read first defender (“T”) past the Center

Eyes on inside jersey number of T, if number:– Comes down (toward) pull -

KEEP– Goes up field (away) – GIVE

QB runs off fold (“alley”)– Attack inside jersey number of

outside invert

T

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Give

Keep

Alley

Midline Recap - QB

QB’s Footwork1. Push parallel (“push away”) to LOS (negating

penetration)2. Step at 6 o’clock3. Replace the 3-technique

Don’t look back at the FB and don’t take eyes off of read because it creates a bubble

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

FB show defenders jersey number and eyes– Dropping eyes = clamping ball harder

Pitch is going to occur down the field 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

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 Playside Guard responsible inside # of playside

linebacker– Harder you avoid, more the 3-technique squeezes

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 blockersTrack Playside Linebacker to Free Safety with 2 blockers

Rules - Load

Run to Tight End side only– Both inverts outside, but no 2 or 3-technique– No invert outside to the Tight End

Option off of the 9-technique– Whether on or off the LOS

Load alley player – 1st player past the read key

E T T

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Load – 2nd Level Trey combo with Tackle and Tight End

– Allows the combo to rotate counter clockwise Efficient position to track Playside Linebacker

– Restricts flow of the playside defenders by creating a wall– Keeps the play from stretching

Trey combo (down) block against a 7-technique– No offensive lineman has to chase their 2nd level defender

Pitch Key

Trey Slow

Versus 7-TechniqueVersus 7-Technique

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Load – 1st Level

Trey combo with Tackle and Tight End– TE must be blocking down; NOT out

Trey combo (down) block against a 5 / 9 alignment

Pitch Key

Trey Slow

Versus 5 / 9 AlignmentVersus 5 / 9 Alignment

Load – Versus 4-3

Tight End reaching– Allows the defense to stretch the play

NO Trey combo versus a 3 & 9-technique If no outside invert to openside – run Inside Veer If outside invert to openside – run Midline

Versus 9-TechniqueVersus 9-Technique

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Inside VeerInside Veer

Play stretchesLineman chasingBetter Choices

Load – QB’s Read

Backside foot at 45°, flash the ball (freeze defense for a step) then downhill running at read

Inside jersey number comes down

– Taking the quarterback; pitch Inside jersey number comes

upfield– Taking the pitch; keep

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Pitch

Keep

Load Recap – QB

Option the 9-technique; the “read”– ON or OFF the LOS

Flash ball at Fullback Get to the wall

– Run downhill at the inside jersey number of the “read”

Pitch - inside number down or towards Keep – inside number upfield or away

Load Recap – Backs

Block (“Load”) Alley Player – 1st defender past the read, most likely Free Safety

Fullback’s track– 1-step at outside hip of guard– 2-step bounce outside at the inside jersey number of the 9-

technique (“read”) 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

Tailback’s track– Drop step and get parallel to the LOS– Work to keep 4 & 1 pitch relationship with the quarterback

Load Recap - Line

Blocking schemes counter rotate– Play doesn’t stretch – wall LBers

Trey Combo with Tightside Tackle and Tight End– Down block on 7-technique or 5/9-techniques

Playside Guard – base block cannot allow penetration

Near Ear Rule

Near Ear is also known as a landmark Block nearest ear of the down defender

according to play call– Where you place your helmet– Base block to near ear

When making a “verbal alert call”– Never pull a covered lineman with you

blocker’s helmet placement

13 Tight or Under Front

No Outside Invert to Tight End - LOADLOAD– Don’t force Midline – NO 3-technique to Tight End

Pitch Key is the 9-technique– Fullback will “load” the Free Safety

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Trey SlowTT & TE to

Playside Linebacker

5 & 95 & 9

NoNoSupportSupport

Pitch Key

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13 Tight or Under Front

No Outside Invert to Openside – INSIDE VEERINSIDE VEER– Don’t force Midline – NO 3-technique to Tight End

Read is the Defensive End– Pitch will occur downfield

Deuce ComboOT & OG to

Playside Linebacker

5 & 95 & 9

NoNoSupportSupport

Read

Reading the Box – 4-3 Run INSIDE VEER to openside

– No invert; has moved inside the “box” Can run LOAD option (to TE) because of 7-technique

– Fullback will “load” Free Safety Other Choices because Offense matches up with Defense

– Lead, Zone, & Trap

E T T

RW M S

C C

F

E

Seven-man Box

NoNoInvertInvert

Read Read

E T T

RW M

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C C

F

E

Six-man Box

Reading the Box – 5-2 Run INSIDE VEER to openside

– No invert (same level as inside linebackers); has moved onto LOS Can run LOAD option (to TE) because of 5 & 9-techniques

– Fullback will “load” Free Safety Other Choices because Offense matches up with Defense

– Lead, Long Trap

NoNoInvertInvert

Read Read

Reading the Box – 33 Double Eagle

Run INSIDE VEER to openside– No invert (same level as inside linebackers); cannot defend Triple Option

Can run LOAD option (to TE) because of 7-technique– Fullback will “load” Free Safety

Can run Midline option (to TE) because of 3-technique

NoNoInvertInvert

Read Read

W E TT

M S R

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Seven-man Box

R E TT

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Seven-man Box

Reading the Box – 33 Split 6

Run INSIDE VEER to openside Run LOAD option (to TE) because of 5 & 9-techniques

– No invert (same level as inside linebackers)– Fullback will “load” Free Safety

Run Midline option (to TE) because of 3-technique– Can run Midline option to openside because of 3-technique

NoNoInvertInvert

Read Read

Get Excited! – All Options are availableGet Excited! – All Options are available

NoNoInvertInvert

W E TT

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C C

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Seven-man Box

Reading the Box – Bear 46

Run LOAD option (to TE) because of 7-technique– No invert (same level as inside linebackers)– Fullback will “load” Free Safety

Can run Midline option (to TE) because of 3-technique– Fullback will read (cut-off) the “nose” on the give

Read

NoNoInvertInvert

Read

R

E TT

M

S

W

C C

F

E

Seven-man Box

Reading the Box – 31 Tight or Solid

Run LOAD option (to TE) because of 5-technique– No invert (same level as inside linebackers)– Fullback will “load” Free Safety

Can run Midline option (to TE) because of 3-technique– Fullback will read (cut-off) the 1-technique on the give

Read

NoNoInvertInvert

Read

Recap

Quarterback follows Outside Invert Rules– Attack side with no outside invert

Openside – Inside Veer 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

Outside Invert Rule allows offensive line to counter rotate blocking schemes

– Using the Near Ear Rule (helmet placement) away from the Point of Attack