Installation Of The Option Game

1
Installation Of The Option Game

• By James Vint
• Offensive Coordinator
• Iowa Wesleyan College

2
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
3
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 Dont See Every Week
• Your Opponent Cant Emulate The Option
• Allows You To Succeed Without A Talented Passer
• Takes Away The Ability Of The Defense To Blitz

4
Hole And Back Numbering
0
2
4
6
8
1
3
5
7
9
Y
X
Z
1
3
4
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.
5
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
6
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 Backer
  Level, Dont Chase

7
Option Plays

• 10-11 Midline
• 12-13 Veer
• 14-15 OS Veer
• 18-19 Load
• 32-33 Trap

Each Option Play Has A Series Of Complementary
Plays Designed To Take Advantage of Defensive
Adjustments
8
Installing The Midline Option
9
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

10
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

11
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
12
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
13
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

T
14
Midline Option Playside GuardPickin 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

15
Pickin Grass Drill For The PSG
M
In This Case, The Mike Stepped Up In The B Gap,
So The PSG Picked Him Up
T
F
M
In This Case, The Mike Attcked The B Gap, So The
PSG worked up to FS
T
16
Pickin Grass Drill For The PSG
M
In This Case, The Mike Stepped Up In The B Gap,
So The PSG Picked Him Up
T
F
M
In This Case, The Mike Attcked The B Gap, So The
PSG worked up to FS
T
17
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

18
Two Track Two Drill Illustrated
M
In This Case, The Mike Stepped Up In The B Gap,
So The PSG Picked Him Up. The TE goes up to the
FS
T
E
F
M
In This Case, The Mike Stepped Up In The B Gap,
So The TE Picked Him Up and the PSG went the free
safety
T
E
19
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

20
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

21
Midline Option The Jill Scheme
F
C
S
M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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
22
Midline Option The Jill Scheme
F
C
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W
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C
E
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E
T
The QB Reads The 3 Tech For His Give/Keep, and
Pitches Off The Sam LB.
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Midline Option The Base Scheme
F
R
C
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M
W
C
E
T
E
T
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
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Midline Option The Base Scheme
F
R
C
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M
W
C
E
T
E
T
We can run the base scheme with the TB running a
pitch path This puts the PST on the Sam LB
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Midline Option The Base Scheme Open
F
C
R
M
W
C
E
T
E
T
S
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
26
Midline Option Vs. A 50 Defense
F
C
M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
S
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.
27
Defensive Adjustment vs. Midline
F
C
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M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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.
28
Midline Option The Pitch Scheme
F
C
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M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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.
29
Defensive Adjustment vs. Midline
F
C
S
M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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.

30
Midline Option Follow Opposite
F
C
S
M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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
31
Midline Option 10 Counter Option
F
C
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W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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

32
Defensive Adjustment vs. Midline
F
C
S
M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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.

33
Midline Option 10 Give
F
C
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W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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
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Midline Option 10 QB Iso
F
C
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W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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.

35
Midline Option The Falcon Scheme
C
F
C
S
M
W
R
E
T
E
T
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
36
Midline Option The Falcon Scheme
C
F
C
M
W
R
E
T
E
T
S
The QB Still Reads The 3 Technique For A Give
Keep The Wing Dropsteps And Gets Down The
Line The Z Blocks The Corner
37
Installation Of The Inside Veer
38
Installation Of The Veer OptionWhy 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

39
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

40
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
41
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

E
42
IS Veer Option 13 Veer
F
C
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M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
QB Reads The Five Tech For His Give/Keep Read FB
Aims For Outside Hip Of PSG TB Dropsteps and Gets
Into Relationship
43
Inside Veer 13 Veer to a 3 Tech
F
C
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W
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C
E
T
E
T
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Deuce Combo on the 3 tech to Will QB Still Reads
5 Tech TB Dropsteps and Gets Into Relationship

44
Inside Veer 13 Veer vs. 50 Eagle Wk
F
C
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W
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C
E
T
E
T
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Deuce Combo on the 3 tech to Will QB Still Reads
5 Tech TB Dropsteps and Gets Into Relationship

45
Inside Veer 13 Veer vs. True 50
F
C
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W
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C
E
T
E
T
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PST release to PSLB, the Will in this case QB
Still Reads 5 Tech The QB pitches off the 9
technique
46
IS Veer Option 13 QB Iso
F
C
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M
W
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C
E
T
E
T
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.
47
IS Veer Option 13 Iso Option
F
C
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M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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.

48
IS Veer Option 32 Trap Option
F
C
S
M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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.
49
IS Veer Option 32 Trap Option
F
C
M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
S
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.
50
Outside Veer 14 Veer vs. True 50
R
F
C
M
W
C
E
T
E
T
S
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.
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Installation Of The Load, Lead, and Speed Options
52
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

53
Load Option Rules

• Best run to a 1-5-9 technique on the tight end
  side.
• Can be run to a 1-5 and 3-5 to the open side.
• Offensive 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.

54
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.
55
Load Option 18 Load Versus A 4-4
F
C
M
W
R
C
S
E
T
E
T
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.
56
Load Option 18 Load Versus A Reduced Front
F
C
M
W
R
C
T
T
S
E
E
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.

57
Load Option 19 Load Weak
F
C
M
W
R
C
E
T
E
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S
Load Weak is great versus a reduced front and the
invert strong. This allows us to get zone
combinations rotating to the backside.

58
Speed Option 19 Speed
F
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M
W
C
E
T
E
T
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.

59
Setting Up Best Option, and Running Your Option
Game From Multiple Formations

• Multiple Formations allows you to create match-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

60
Best Option vs. a 30 Stack
W
M
S

R
T
E
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.
61
Best Option vs. a 4-4 Stack
W
M
S
R
T
E
E
T
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.
62
Best Option vs. a 4-4
W
M
S
R
T
E
E
T
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.
63
Best Option vs. a 13 Front
W
M
R
T
S
E
E
T
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.
64
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 pre-snap
  alignment
• Forces the defense to adjust to motion
• Defense must take practice time to prepare,
  taking time away from their option preparation

65
Using TE Motion For Midline
F
C
S
M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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

66
Using TE Motion For Midline
F
C
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M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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.
67
Using TE Motion For Veer
F
C
S
M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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.
68
Using TE Motion For Load Option
F
C
S
M
W
R
C
T
T
E
E
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.

69
Inside Veer Breaking The Triangle
F
C
S
M
W
R
C
E
T
E
T
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.
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Inside Veer Breaking The Triangle
F
C
C
S
M
W
R
E
T
E
T
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.
71
Play Action Pass With Your Option Game
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Midline Option Play Action
F
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W
C
E
T
E
T
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.
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Midline Option TE Quick
F
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C
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M
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C
E
T
E
T
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.
74
Veer Option Play Action
F
C
C
S
M
W
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E
T
E
T
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.
75
Load Option Play Action
F
C
C
S
M
W
R
E
T
E
T
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.
76
Installation Of The Option Game

• BY James Vint
• Offensive Coordinator
• Iowa Wesleyan College
• jvint_at_iwc.edu