Lou Cella

If you were running it to the tight end side, I know general philosophy would say to arc the tight end to the outside linebacker. We found a lot of teams would walk up that invert and I don't think we could get him with the tight end. Would you have him go for the stack backer, or what?

Chad, great question.

Old-fashioned load option works well, because if the fullback loads the end, you are no worse that one-on-one with the outside invert. But, the blocks are all tough, though. You can run veer to the single receiver side, but it is hard to run veer when you have an outside invert. If you get an outside invert to the single receiver side, it is tough to run option. The option-on-me would be a good offense for you if you wanted to do this, because you can check to a better play if there is an outside invert.

If you're going to run triple option, you need to break the triangle. This means that are three defenders on or outside the tackle ready to defend the option. Thus, you need two receivers. Option-on-me sounds like something that can help you tremendously.

I hope this helped.

The best way to run tightside veer vs. the stack is the following:

PSE- STalk
PTE- BASE!!!
PT- 1st inside defender
PG- 1st playside defensive lineman
C- Base-Playside Gap
BG, BT- Wedge

TREAT THE STACK AS ONE READ!

As far as load goes, yes. Flash the ball to the Fullback and then have the fullback load the invert.

I hope this helped. I certainly would look forward to discussing this further.

Chad, the guard does count the nose as the 1st playside defensive lineman. The Tight End bases the defensive end. Your tight end should not have a problem getting to the outside invert. Navy does this with their slotback when they face a 3-3 defense. I used to think the same as you in regards to the tight end on the stacked backer. But, Navy showed us this, and then it all made sense. You cannot have 3 defenders unblocked to defend your triple. This is called the triangle and it must be broken via blocking scheme or formation (preferred). That's what you need to do.

Coach Cella,

Can you clarify; you stated in your email that your TE gets the DE, but then said the TE gets the Invert.

Are you considering the DE the invert or ?

Tks.

MacBruin- First, without question, get all of Coach Campbell's option-on-me videos. That's where I learned the intricacies of the midline, the veer, and the double option. Get these videos to learn how to run the option. The detailing by Coach Campbell is amazing.

Once you've gotten those, I would also recommend the Air Force videos. I have all of them, and they are wonderful! Honestly, after that, I would go to clinics and learn how different coaches run the option. This would help you tremendously, because they run everything from a red/blue set. Air Force coaches are wonderful teachers of the sport.

Finally, I recommend Tony DeMeo's book on 101 ways to run the option. This shows the variety of ways that the triple and double option can be run. Awesome book!

Don't spend all of your Christmas money on all this at once. Start off with Coach Campbell's option-on-me. Once you have studied that, then work your way to the Air Force tapes. Then, get the DeMeo book. If you need any advice on what to buy, contact me before you buy. I watched a ton of tapes and read a ton of books. I can give you legit advice on what works well.

I authored two pamphlets on the jet series and ran the jet series and the midline in the 90s when neither play was fashionable. Any help you need, let me know.


Duke- I assume you are referring to the post about the 3-3 stack. Inverts, as defined by Coach Campbell, are the contain players. They are usually outside backers/defensive ends/overhang players who are outside of the tackle box and have contain responsibility.

What Navy does against the stack is they have the tackle veer release to the middle backer, and they have the slotback (in a pro formation this would be the tight end) block the invert, which is the spur in a 3-3 stack.

Any questions or clarifications, please ask. I hope I didn't make things more complicated.

Warrior- DO NOT BE AFRAID AND THINK THAT YOUR QUARTERBACK CANNOT MAKE A READ! He can if he is trained properly and YOU THE COACH have taught him how to read in a systematic way.

The two best drills I have are to have your center, quarterback, and fullback go against a read key. This is best if you use marked line tape. Have the read key do multiple things to confuse the quarterback. Have the read key fly straight upfield, have him freeze, have him fly upfield and turn the far shoulder, and have him pinch down hard. Rep this drill constantly! This is a drill you can do in the middle of the winter in a confined space! That's the first drill.

The second drill is to add your pitchback. The quarterback will now either give the ball, keep the ball, or pitch the ball. Now you will add a pitch key. Continue to have the read key do the variety of moves. Then with your pitch key have him do multiple things to confuse the quarterback. Have the pitch key attack the quarterback, attack the pitch back, split the difference between the two, attack the pitchback and then move to the quarterback, and vice versa. This gives the quarterback all the looks that he will see during the season. Do each drill about 1,000 times from the early summer months through training camp, and you will see a polished option quarterback. Also, never, ever, ever get on your quarterback for making a bad read. One thing I learned from Coach Campbell is if your QB makes a bad read, just pull him aside briefly and tell him what he MIGHT want to do next time. Don't get all over your QB for making a bad read, or he'll start to predetermine his reads out of fear. If you care to discuss the intricacies of the triple and get even more specific, let me know and we'll go and do it!

John, if you get a 5-3 Eagle with the defensive tackle as a 2 or 3 technique that would be the way to go.

What if the defensive tackle is a 4 or 5 technique? Now you have a triangle to break.

I hope I gave you for what you were searching.

Lou,
If you were facing a 44 defense would you still prefer to run ISV to your strong side? We usually see the weak side DT in a 44 align in a 2i and the strong side DT in a 3 tech...wouldnt it be more sound to run to the weak side against this defense because of the DT being in a 2i...instead of running right into the 3 tech on the strong side??

I'm not Lou, but I can weigh in on this one. I know a lot of option coaches who say not to run veer if there is a weak side invert. But in my experince, if the weak side of the defense gives you a 1 and 4/5 (or 2i) you can still run weakside veer even with an invert. When the defense gives you the 3 tech, you have to double him (or combo) but either way the linebacker to that side is going to have a good chance to scrape over the top and take QB, letting the OLB take pitch. No play. But if the defense gives you the 1-5 your PST should be able to get the LB blocked. Widen the DE with a big split (we will take a five to six foot split if the DE continues to widen) to the point where he cannot effectively stop the dive. We also hit a tight landmark on our veer (right at the crack is our aiming point but to be honest, it ends up almost at his inside cheek) to make it even tougher on that DE to get down to the dive back. The big split will also give the PST a better angle for the LB. Now the LB has to sit on that dive back allowing the offense to get a 2 on 1 with the invert player. For us, our entire offense is predicated on forcing the inside LBs to respect the threat of the dive. That is why we run the straight give and a lot of inside trap. When we see a 4-4 team that plays their LBs over the top to the QB, we call Give. The PST turns out the 5 tech (who the defense is counting on to take dive) the PSG has a great angle on the 2i and the Lb is running himself out of the play. Sometimes it bends all the way back behind the backside inside LB. After a few times we gash them with the FB, that LB will sit on the dive, and the offense can go back to running regular veer. Kind of a long explanation of our philosophy. Take it for what it's worth.

Coach Cella,
I am ready for any and all discussions. I need to learn as much as possible to work on it soon with my QB. ISV vs a 40 front. We don't see much as far as shades go simple because of our balanced front. DOUBLE SLOT. DO you run any gun option? Favorite pass play off from the option and specific blocking scheme.

READ key DE
PITCH key OLB
who do you send your wing to? (ILB scraping to safety)

Chad- you have to teach your linebackers to read keys. In my opinion, the best reads from linebackers are the guards. Why not read the biggest, fattest, slowest people on the field. I think you can tell your kids that a dive is coming if the read key is blocked, and vice versa, but in most option schemes, the inside linebacker is responsible for the dive anyway. I think anything more than this would be overcoaching.

Warrior- we do not run any gun option. My philosophy is that you need a great athlete year in and year out to be able to run gun option. People will disagree and that's fine. I've bought Coach Campbell's Gun Offense book and it is great. I bought Tony DeMeo's shotgun option books, and they are well taught, but I don't like running the option out of the gun. You need solid backside blocking and the reason why I run the triple, is to eliminate the need for great blocking!

Warrior here is who we would block running inside veer out of double slot vs. a 4-4 (no shade)
PSE- Stalk
PSB- Iso (Inside Linebacker)
PT- deuce (double team the playside defensive tackle 2-tech)
PG- deuce (double team the playside defensive tackle 2-tech)
C- Playside Gap
BG- Wedge
BT- Wedge
BSB- 3-step Mo, Veer Path
BSE- Crack
FB- Veer Path (outside shade of the guard)
QB- Veer Steps

YOUR READ KEY IS THE DEFENSIVE LINEMAN ON OUR OUTSIDE OF THE TACKLE AND THE PITCH KEY IS THE NEXT IN-BOX DEFENDER PAST HIM.

I hope this is what you're looking for. Keep asking questions and I'll help you any way that I can.

Captain- No, usually the triangle is the read key, pitch key, and another overhang player. The corner is usually blocked by the wide receiver or slotback if it's a 2-deep look. The triangle is formed when there are three players on to outside of the tackle.

Guys, I hope this helps. It's good to see this board with some life again!

Coach Cella-

Would you say that you only see this triangle look in certain defenses, such as a 3-3 stack type? Otherwise, it seems like the defense would be weakening themselves too much to the inside.

Coaches,

Great discussion the I wish I had contributed to earlier. I have this to add--against the 3-5 or 5-3 we have found inside veer to be effective with our only change being an inside release of our TE to the PSOLB. Normally, against a 5-2, we arc release up to the safety.

Our history is that we have tried to run the veer out of I backs, but struggled. We have gone to split backs and a double slot/double wing look. Our plays off the veer have been cut back, trap, sweep/quick pitch, iso, veer reverse, veer pass, and the power plays off tackle. We are read and decide with an emphasis on getting into the LOS and forcing the DL to play side to side and creating gaps and forcing them to make decisions

The defense that gives us the most problems is the 4-4 with a lot of blitzing.

Warrior 777,

Our blocking scheme for the 5-3 for inside veer is:

PSTE inside release to PSOLB
PST inside release to MLB
PSG double Nose
BSG backside to WSOLB
BST step playside and engage DT

QB 45 degree step then one long one into LOS reading DT. After the read we step around and get vertical looking to break it outside once we are into the second level.

FB veer path to outside of guard

HB pitch relationship 4x1

I don't know if that helps you or not but it is how we do it.

This is how we attacked the 33 stack. Normally, we are a Twins team, but do run out of the Pro as well. Against our Twins, the defense bumped the DE/OLB out to our slot receiver and left us with a stack over the PST. We decided that rather than trying to read the stack, we'd use a different formation. We went Pro and ran inside veer blocking it like this: 1) Center blocks the NT (2) PSG blocks the Mike backer (3) PST inside releases and looks for the OLB (4) TE blocks down on the OLB. Basically we felt we had to double team the OLB because of his ability to blitz in both the B and C gap. We read the DT for Dive and pitched off of the DE.

We had more success in the second half running veer from a trips formation with no pitch. Our TB went up as a 3rd receiver and widened the stacked LB enough that he couldn't really blitz the B gap. PST blocked down, TB sealed the outside LB and the QB either gave or kept. If he didn't widen we ran speed option and sprint out to take advantage his tight alignment.