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 Pre Snap Reads are
not completed until
the QB’s hands are
under the center!
■ 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
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
QB will look to these areas for the best If both inverts are located outside, then 6-
option and to understand how many man box, thus, the Outside Invert Rule will
defenders are aligned inside the box area. dictate the best option.
F F

C Six-man Box C C Six-man Box C

S M W R R W M S
E T T E E T T E

Load Midline Inside Veer Inside Veer Midline Load

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

toughest point when it has two running
backs, two wide receivers and a tight end!
Option Choices
■ Inside Veer – Openside (away from TE) 12 or 13
– No invert outside the openside tackle
– Only choice to the Openside
10 or 11
■ Midline – Tightside (to TE) Jill
– ONLY versus 2 or 3 Technique
– 2 outside inverts = 6-man box  run at the box
■ Load – Tightside (to or outside TE) 18 or 19
– No outside invert to the TE, or
– 2 outside inverts versus 7-technique or 5 & 9 alignment
Rules - Inside Veer 12 or 13

■ 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
Put Inside Veer into a situation where the
defense 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
F

C C
Must be able to break the 3 2
triangle; defensive end, inside R W M S
linebacker, and outside invert.
1
E T T E

1
2
3
Don’t put veer into defensive triangle
 Inside Veer – No Outside Invert
■ No Outside Invert; No Defensive Triangle

C 2 C
W M S R
2 to defend 3
1
E T T E

1
2
3

Run Inside Veer

Inside Veer – QB’s Reads
■ Opens at 45°and reaches ball F
back as deep as possible to FB
■ Eyes to inside jersey number of
5 technique W
– Inside number comes down – pull Keep
[KEEP] E T
■ Defender taken dive
– Inside number soft or working up
field – GIVE ball to FB
■ 5 technique is always wrong Give
Rules - Midline 10 or 11 Jill

■ 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”
F

C 3-te C
chni
que
R W M S

E T T E

1
2 Take option to TE
3
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
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

F
2 tracking FS
Pitch
C Key C
R Read S
W M
Key
E T T E
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 Key

F R
C C
Read
W M Key S

E T T E
Midline - QB’s Read
F
■ Read first defender (“T”)
past the Center
■ Eyes on inside jersey number M Alley S
of T, if number:
– Comes down (toward) pull - Keep T E
KEEP
– Goes up field (away) – GIVE
■ QB runs off fold (“alley”) Give
– Attack inside jersey number of
outside invert
Midline Recap - QB
■ QB’s Footwork
1. Push parallel (“push away”) to LOS (negating
penetration)
2. Step at 6 o’clock
3. 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 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
Load – 2 Level nd

■ 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
F
C Pitch Key C
R W M S

E T T E

Trey Slow

Versus 7-Technique
Load – 1 Level st

■ Trey combo with Tackle and Tight End

– TE must be blocking down; NOT out
■ Trey combo (down) block against a 5 / 9 alignment

F
C C
R W M
Pitch Key
E T T E S

Trey Slow

Versus 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
F

C C
No Invert R
W M S
Inside Veer
E T T E

Play stretches
Lineman chasing
Better Choices
Versus 9-Technique
Load – QB’s Read
F
■ Backside foot at 45°, flash the
ball (freeze defense for a step)
M S then downhill running at read
Keep
■ Inside jersey number comes
T E down
– Taking the quarterback; pitch
Pitch ■ Inside jersey number comes
upfield
– Taking the 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 blocker’s helmet placement

■ 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
13 Tight or Under Front
■ No Outside Invert to Tight End - LOAD
– Don’t force Midline – NO 3-technique to Tight End
■ Pitch Key is the 9-technique
– Fullback will “load” the Free Safety
F
Pitch Key
C C
No
R W M Support

E T T E S 5&9

Trey Slow
TT & TE to
Playside Linebacker
13 Tight or Under Front
■ No Outside Invert to Openside – INSIDE VEER
– Don’t force Midline – NO 3-technique to Tight End
■ Read is the Defensive End
– Pitch will occur downfield
F

C C
No Read
Support W M R

E T T E S 5&9
Deuce Combo
OT & OG to
Playside Linebacker
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
F

C Read
Seven-man Box
Read
C
No W M S R
Invert

E T T E
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
F

C Read
Six-man Box
Read
C
No
Invert W M R
E T T E S
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
F

C Read Seven-man Box Read C

No M S R
Invert

W E T T E
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
F

C Read
Seven-man Box
Read
C
No No
Invert W M Invert

R E T T E S

Get Excited! – All Options are available

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
Read Seven-man Box
No
R M F Invert

C C
W E T T S E
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
F

C Read Seven-man Box Read C

R W M No
Invert

E T T E S
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