Installation Of The Option Game

By James Vint Offensive Coordinator Iowa Wesleyan College

Special Thanks To: Jerry Campbell

This system is adapted from Coach Campbell He is one of the great high school coaches of today He helped us to install the complete option game Coach Campbell offers several great option products His option on me system is easy to teach and easy to install to ensure you have the best option called at the line. Order his option manual for this system Coach Campbell is always available to coaches who want to learn more about the great game of football!

www.jcfb.com

Advantages Of The Option Game

Allows You To Get The Ball Onto The Perimeter Forces The Defense To Play Assignment Football Allows Your Best Athletes To Get The Ball In Space Allows You To Account For Eight Man Fronts Gives You The Opportunity For Big Plays Systematic Approach Allows You To Audible At LOS Forces Your Opponent To Prepare For Something They Don t See Every Week Your Opponent Can t Emulate The Option Allows You To Succeed Without A Talented Passer Takes Away The Ability Of The Defense To Blitz

Hole And Back Numbering

9 X 1 3 4 7 5 3 1 0 2 4 Y Z 6 8

We number our play with the number of the ball carrier, followed by the hole number. For example, IS veer left would be 13 veer. All option plays start with a 1, with the exception of trap option.

Line Calls
Center and Right Guard: Ace Lion Center and Left Guard: Ace Ram Guard and Tackle: Deuce Tackle and Tight End: Trey Fold Blocks (Fever): Jack and Jill

Zone Combination Blocks

Two Offensive Lineman Track A Defensive Lineman and A Linebacker We Have Four Eyes On The Backer We Secure the Down Guy First Players Will Step Hippo (Hip to Hip) Linemen Must Not Get Split Drive D-Lineman Into Backer, Come Off At DBacker Level, Don t Chase

Option Plays
1010-11 1212-13 1414-15 1818-19 3232-33 Midline Veer OS Veer Load Trap
Each Option Play Has A Series Of Complementary Plays Designed To Take Advantage of Defensive Adjustments

Installing The Midline Option

Installing The Option As A System: Midline Option

We Install The Midline Option First As It Is The Easiest Read For The QB The Midline Attacks The Middle Of The Defense Forces The Defense To Reduce Their Front Reduction Of The Front Opens Up The Perimeter Complementary Plays Answer What Defenses Do To Take Midline Away Complementary Plays Allow You To Dictate Who Carries The Football

Midline Installation Rules

Run To A 3 Technique Run To The Tight End Side (Later You Will Run It Weak and vs. a 50 Front) FB Attacks The Midpoint Of The Center QB Reads The Jersey Number Of The 3 Tech If The 3 Squeezes, Pull and Replace If The 3 Comes Upfield Give and Replace

Midline Option: The Mesh

The QB Will Push Away And Step At Six On The Push Away Step, The QB Brings The Ball To His Third Hand (Belly) As He Steps At Six, The QB Will Reach The Ball Deep and Snap His Eyes To His Read The FB Will Run Up The Midpoint Of The Center Forming A Soft Pocket The FB Will Feel The QB, He Will Not Snatch The Ball

Illustrating The Mesh

The QB Will Push Away And Step At Six On The Push Away Step, The QB Brings The Ball To His Third Hand (Belly) As He Steps At Six, The QB Will Reach The Ball Deep and Snap His Eyes To His Read The FB Will Run Up The Midpoint Of The Center Forming A Soft Pocket The FB Will Feel The QB, He Will Not Snatch The Ball

Reading The 3 Tech Mesh Drill

If The 3 Tech Comes Upfield, The QB Gives If The 3 Tech Squeezes, The QB Will Pull The Ball And Replace The 3 Tech If the QB Has The Ball At His Front Leg, He Will Give The Ball The FB Must Make A Soft Pocket

Midline Option: Playside Guard Pickin Grass

The Playside Guard Is Going To Reduce His Shoulder To Get Under The 3 Tech and Attack The Mike Linebacker We Teach This Technique As Pickin Grass He Picks Grass With His Outside Arm and Gets His Eyes To The Mike If The Mike Steps Up, Block Him If The Mike Flows, Go To The Free Safety

Pickin Grass Drill For The PSG

In This Case, The Mike Stepped Up In The B Gap, So The PSG Picked Him Up

M T F

In This Case, The Mike Attcked The B Gap, So The PSG worked up to FS

M T

Pickin Grass Drill For The PSG

In This Case, The Mike Stepped Up In The B Gap, So The PSG Picked Him Up

M T F

In This Case, The Mike Attcked The B Gap, So The PSG worked up to FS

M T

Two To Track Two

We Want To Have A Second Player Track The Mike LB To The FS Whenever Possible Depending On The Front, The PST, TE, or TB Will Be The Second Tracker Their Eyes Must Be On The Mike Backer If He Goes Away, Eyes Must Go To The Free Safety

Two Track Two Drill Illustrated

In This Case, The Mike Stepped Up In The B Gap, So The PSG Picked Him Up. The TE goes up to the FS

M T F E

In This Case, The Mike Stepped Up In The B Gap, So The TE Picked Him Up and the PSG went the free safety

M T E

Fold Blocks
Fold Blocks Give You Advantages As You Can Get Angles On Defenders Like Any Skill Fold Blocks Must Be Practice We Have Two Calls For Fold Blocks Jack and Jill Are The Two Calls If We Call Jack, The Outside Lineman Will Go First, And The Inside Lineman Will Step Around If We Call Jill, The Inside Lineman Will Go First and The Outside Lineman Will Step Around

Midline Option: The Jill Scheme

This Is A Triple Option Scheme Run To A 4-4 Defense We Run This Versus a 3 and 7 To The Play Side This Allows Us To Get Two Players Tracking The Mike LB And Free Safety We Get The End Angle Blocked To The Outside

Midline Option: The Jill Scheme

C R E W T F M T E S C

This is the Jill Scheme Because Of The Fold Block By The Tackle and TE. The Tackle Goes First, Hence The Jill Call. The Tailback Gets Into Relationship And Calls Ball, Ball

Midline Option: The Jill Scheme

C R E W T F M T E S C

The QB Reads The 3 Tech For His Give/Keep, and Pitches Off The Sam LB.

Midline Option: The Base Scheme

C R W E T M T S E F C

The Base Scheme Is An Alert Used By The TE Vs. A College 4-3 Base Tells The Tackle He Is The 2nd Tracker of the Mike And The TB Leads Up On The Sam

Midline Option: The Base Scheme

C R W E T M T S E F C

We can run the base scheme with the TB running a pitch path This puts the PST on the Sam LB

Midline Option: The Base Scheme Open C F R S E W T M T E C

We Use The Base Scheme Away From The TE The Tailback Will Lead The QB Through The B Gap On A Pull Read This allows us to run midline versus a reduced front

Midline Option: Vs. A 50 Defense

C S E W T F M T E R C

Vs. The 50 You Can Still Run Midline It allows Your Back To Read The Block On The Nose The QB Reads The DT in a 5 tech.

Defensive Adjustment vs. Midline

C R E W T F M T E S C

One way the defense will try to take midline away is by having the Sam fall in on the QB. The Sam will meet the QB in the B gap for a short gain. This exposes the perimeter.

Midline Option: The Pitch Scheme

C R E W T F M T E S C

The Pitch Scheme Is Designed To Take Advantage Of A Sam That Is Falling In On The QB. The Pitch Scheme Tells The TE To Arc Release To The Sam. The QB pitches off the DE and we get the ball on the perimeter to the TB.

Defensive Adjustment vs. Midline

C R E W T F M T E S C

The defense will have the Will attack the frontside A gap to take the FB, with the 3 tech coming upfield. The QB will give the ball and the Will stops the FB. This leaves the defense vulnerable to the B gap on the backside.

Midline Option: Follow Opposite

C R E W T F M T E S C

Follow Opposite Is Designed To Take Advantage Of A Will Who Is Falling In On The Dive And Beating Our Combo After Riding The FB, The QB Will Pull and Follow The FB Opposite

Midline Option: 10 Counter Option

C E W T F M S R T E C

This Is Another Great Complement To The Will Falling In On Dive. We Run This To A 4-3 With The Invert Strong The QB Rides The FB, Turns Backside, and Pitches Off The Backside DE

Defensive Adjustment vs. Midline

C R E W T F M T S E C

The defense will also have the 3 tech slam the guard and the Mike stem hard to the B gap. This stunt has the Mike beating the TE, and we must add a complementary play to defeat this.

Midline Option: 10 Give

C R E W T F M T S E C

Give Takes Advantage Of The Mike Stemming To B Gap This Allows Us To Get The Ball To Our FB With Two Zone Combos In The Middle

Midline Option: 10 QB Iso

C R E W T F M T S E C

This is another way we take advantage of the Mike LB stemming to the B gap. The QB rides the FB and follows him through the 0 hole.

Midline Option: The Falcon Scheme

C R E W T F M T E S C

The QB Still Reads The 3 Technique For A Give Keep The TB Is Aiming For The B Gap You Can Run This With A Wing Also

Midline Option: The Falcon Scheme

C R E W T F M T E S C

The QB Still Reads The 3 Technique For A Give Keep The Wing Dropsteps And Gets Down The Line The Z Blocks The Corner

Installation Of The Inside Veer

Installation Of The Veer Option: Why The Inside Veer?

Attacks The Open Side Of The Defense Forces The Defense To Play Assignment Football Away From The Tight End Downhill Blocking Schemes Create Movement Zone Combinations Allow For Easier Blitz Pickups Easy Read For The QB Complementary and Play Action Pass Cause Conflict In Defenders

Inside Veer Installation Rules

Run To A 5 Technique Run Away From The TE FB Attacks Outside Hip Of The Guard QB Reads The Jersey Number Of The 5 Tech If The 5 Squeezes, Pull and Replace If The 5 Comes Upfield Give and Replace

Inside Veer Option: The Mesh

The QB Will Step At 45 and Get Downhill into the hole As he gets into the hole, the QB will snap is eyes to the five technique while reaching the ball deep The FB will run off the Outside hip of the guard making a soft pocket The FB Will Feel The QB, He Will Not Snatch The Ball

Reading The 5 Tech: Veer Mesh Drill

If The 5 Tech Comes Upfield, The QB Gives If The 5 Tech Squeezes, The QB Will Pull The Ball And Replace The 5 Tech If the QB Has The Ball At His Front Leg, He Will Give The Ball The FB Must Make A Soft Pocket

IS Veer Option: 13 Veer

C E W T F M S R T E C

QB Reads The Five Tech For His Give/Keep Read FB Aims For Outside Hip Of PSG TB Dropsteps and Gets Into Relationship

Inside Veer: 13 Veer to a 3 Tech

C ET F W T M E S R C

Deuce Combo on the 3 tech to Will QB Still Reads 5 Tech TB Dropsteps and Gets Into Relationship

Inside Veer: 13 Veer vs. 50 Eagle Wk

C E T F W T M E S R C

Deuce Combo on the 3 tech to Will QB Still Reads 5 Tech TB Dropsteps and Gets Into Relationship

Inside Veer: 13 Veer vs. True 50

C E T F W T M E S R C

PST release to PSLB, the Will in this case QB Still Reads 5 Tech The QB pitches off the 9 technique

IS Veer Option: 13 QB Iso

C E W T F M S R T E C

This allows us to get the QB the ball following the FB. We run this when we see a stemming Will who is vacating the B gap. The QB rides the FB and follows him up in the hole.

IS Veer Option: 13 Iso Option

C R E W T F M S T E C

Iso Option is run from our Ace Slot set. We run QB Iso with the TB in the slot becoming the pitch man. You can motion from trips to run this complement to veer option as well.

IS Veer Option: 32 Trap Option

C E W T F M S R T E C

We run FB trap off veer action. We want to get the Will and Mike fast flowing to stop veer, allowing us to wall off the trap. The QB still reads the 5 technique and will pull the ball if the 5 tech sqeezes.

IS Veer Option: 32 Trap Option

C W E T F M T R E S C

This is FB Trap versus an odd front or a 5-2 front. We combo the frontside one tech to the will. We would make a long call since we are trapping a 5 technique.

Outside Veer: 14 Veer vs. True 50

C E F T R W T M E S C

Outside veer is great versus a 50 front and a college 4-3. We read the 9 tech for our give read and pitch off the next defender. The FB can hit the B or C gap.

Installation Of The Load, Lead, and Speed Options

Installing the Load, Lead, and Speed Options

Allows you to get the ball on the perimeter Your athletes get the ball in space Forces defense to defend the alley and the sidewalk Takes advantage when the defense reduces their front to stop midline Allows you to attack both the 5 and 9 techniques

Load Option Rules

Best run to a 1-5-9 technique on the tight end 1side. Can be run to a 1-5 and 3-5 to the open side. 13Offensive line will slow rotate combos tracking backside backers. Fullback reads the pitch key for his path to block the alley player. The QB flash fakes and pauses to allow the fullback to clear. The FB is responsible for the alley player.

Load Option Drill For The Fullback F F S S

This is the Load Drill for the FB. If the Pitch key squeezes, the FB goes outside of him to the alley player. If the Pitch key comes upfield, the FB goes inside of him to the Alley Player. This must be drilled on a daily basis.

Load Option: 18 Load Versus A 4-4 4C R E W T F M T E S C

Load is great vs. a 4-4 as we get a combo on the 7 technique to the Mike LB. We base the 3, and pitch off the 9 technique. The QB flash fakes and attacks the Sam. The FB reads the Sam for his path as he has the first opposite colored jersey past the pitch key.

Load Option: 18 Load Versus A Reduced Front

R E T

F T

M E S

This is best case scenario for load option as we get two zone combinations on the front side of the play. The QB pitches off the EMOL and the FB blocks the alley player. We want to run load versus a 1-5-9 with the invert weak.

Load Option: 19 Load Weak

C ET F W T M E S R C

Load Weak is great versus a reduced front and the invert strong. This allows us to get zone combinations rotating to the backside.

Speed Option: 19 Speed

C R E W T F M S T E C

QB Will Pitch Off The 5 tech, while the Offensive Line veer blocks. This allows us to get the ball to the perimeter from a four wide set. Speed is great to a 6 man box from an ace or spread look.

Setting Up Best Option, and Running Your Option Game From Multiple Formations Multiple Formations allows you to create matchmatch-up advantages Allows you to have simple checks for your quarterback Option On Me System Is Simple To Teach Formations Allow You To Outflank Your Opponents

Best Option vs. a 30 Stack

R W E M T S E $

Versus a 30 Stack, we run veer from a twins look. From a two back pro versus the above look, midline and load to the tight end are very good plays to run.

Best Option vs. a 4-4 Stack 4R E W T M T S E

Versus a 4-4 Stack, you want to run load and lead to the strong side. You can also run midline. Motioning the Z receiver to a twins set breaks the triangle for veer option. With no inverts, you want to get the ball onto the perimeter.

Best Option vs. a 4-4 4R E W T M T E S

Versus a 4-4 front with a 3 and 7 strong, and a 1-5 weak, get excited because every option is on, with midline being the best choice. You can use motion to break the triangle.

Best Option vs. a 13 Front

W E T T M E S R

Versus a 1-5-9 to the tight end, load is a great play because of the two combination blocks on the play side. The FB would block the invert.

Using TE Motion In the Option Game

Putting the TE in motion allows you to get an extra blocker on the playside Allows you to dictate strength after prepresnap alignment Forces the defense to adjust to motion Defense must take practice time to prepare, taking time away from their option preparation

Using TE Motion For Midline

C R E W T F M T S E C

We flex the TE and put him in motion to the QB and to the play. We end up in our Trey Jill scheme at the snap. We will call 10-11 check in the huddle and run the play to the 3 tech

Using TE Motion For Midline

C R E W T F M T S E C

In this case, the QB has a 3 tech to the right, so he checks to 10 Midline. This is great when the defense is adjusting their front, and allows us to put the TE in motion.

Using TE Motion For Veer

C E W T F M S T E R C

QB Would Check To Veer To The 1-5 Technique Side. In this case he would check to 13 veer. The TE motions and tracks the PSLB to Free Safety with the PST. This is similar to two track two for the midline option.

Using TE Motion For Load Option

C R E T W F T M E S C

The QB again looks for a 1-5 technique as this allows us to get two playside zone combination blocks. In the case above he would check to 18 load as that is where we have the 1-5 technique.

Inside Veer Breaking The Triangle

C R E W T F M S T E C

In the case above, the invert is to the playside, so we would want to run our option game to the TE. To break the triangle, we can motion the Z, or come out in a twins set, giving us a player to account for the invert.

Inside Veer Breaking The Triangle

F C R E W T M S T E C

As you can see, bringing the Z over into a twins set helps us to get a blocker on the Rover, who is lined up as a playside invert.

Play Action Pass With Your Option Game

Midline Option: Play Action

C R W E T M T S E F C

The Play Action off the Midline is a great play! The PSWR runs a post corner, the TE runs a seam, and the backside WR runs a skinny post. The FB runs a slice, and the TB runs a swing. The QB rides the FB and drops 3 steps.

Midline Option: TE Quick

C R W E T M T S E F C

The TE Quick is great to take advantage of an aggressive Mike LB. The QB rides the FB and hits the TE behind the Mike. The TE is looking to throttle down in the hole, not settle.

Veer Option: Play Action

C F R E W T M T S E C

Play action off the veer is best run with a twins look to the playside. We run a post or curl wheel on the frontside, with the FB in the flat and the TE on a drag that can be converted to a post.

Load Option: Play Action

C F R E S T M W T E C

Play Action Off The load requires the QB to sell the load with two downhill steps before he drops. The PSWR runs a post corner, and the BSWR runs a post. The FB runs a seam, and the TE runs a Z out.

Installation Of The Option Game

BY: James Vint Offensive Coordinator Iowa Wesleyan College jvint@iwc.edu