Apex block the inside veer

We run the inside veer to the outside leg of the guard. We always have four playside blockers (center, guard, tackle, slot). Our playside slot has the inside linebacker to the safety. Our playside tackle has the 1st defender inside of him. Our playside guard has the 1st playside DL. Our center has the nose, if no nose, he has the ILB. The backside guard cuts off and does not allow the ILB to cross over to the playside. The backide tackle cuts off and works across the field. The backside slot runs 3-step motion and runs his veer path. The fullback runs to the outside leg of the guard, and the QB gives the ball to the Fullback UNLESS the read key turns his jersey numbers and takes the dive. The playside split end stalks and the backside split end cuts off. That's how we run it.

Add midline to the offense so you can eliminate the 3-technique from penetrating laterally on your veer. Also, in my opinion, the midline eliminates the need for blocking what usually is the biggest athlete on the field.

I know that other coaches like to combo their veer, and that's fine. This is the way in which I run it, and it matches my philosophy of making blocking physically easier. Always assume that you have terrible linemen and you can never go wrong with this veer scheme.

I hope this helped.

The old school I was at was a flexbone team and they used this scheme. We called it triple and chip, where the goal was to get movement on the DT and just pick everyone else up in the wash. It wasnt used as the base scheme however, just when the had a stud at a 2 tech, who our guard couldnt handle every down.

Coach cella, just a clarification:
vs. a 4-4, is your center blocking the PS Mike or the Backside?
Thanks
jon bunton

Coach Cella,

Do you run any trap option? is that a necessary part of the option package?
I'm not a coach yet (still in college at University of South Dakota)
But my plans are for my base offensive running package to include:

Inside Veer
FB Dive (Navy's off of IV)
Midline
Speed Option
Counter Trap
X/Y and Slot Reverse

Is this sufficient? It appears to attack each area of the defense and not give any defensive position the choice to "Cheat" on a play. Please let me know your thoughts on this.
Thank you.
Jon Bunton

We have used a very simple term for our midline blocking rules that seems to make things easy for them. We tell the line to "fan" away from the read key. We use the expression that the read key stinks, so run away.

We do sometimes have to "ace block" a one technique against a will linebacker that doesnt give the bsg an angle.

Lou,

Rules work fine against a 4-4, 4-3, and reduction. I tried to actually read a one technique and use the same rules in practice, but our best player (fb) was getting pounded by a fat defensive tackle and we scrapped it really quick.

We check midline to a 3 technique, I have read alot (JC's books) about trying to run it to a 2 technique and dont really think that you get such a great read because the tackle is locked up on the (psg). We have always used the thought process that if they give us a two, he isn't gonna stay a 2, he will probably slant. In addition, I have always felt like that 2 technique just made it easier to run triple, because we dont have to combo him. We kind of think of midline like most people used to think of trap. If we are struggling runing triple because the three is making it difficult, we try and squeeze him back down with midline.

Against a 3 and a 1 (4-3 look) we also run a "midline sucker" play where the bsg cuts the 1, the center blocks mike, and the psg sucker pulls outside to freeze the three and we give to the fullback. Works really well with 1 tech. that shade the guard instead of the center.

Everytime I defended the triple option, I would pinch down to take away the dive. We would then tell our OLB to kill the QB. We always want to make the QB pitch. I do like your idea on the "fan" scheme on midline... we ran a "fan" scheme in high school when ISO was called. Your fan scheme really only works vs. a 2 or 3 technique. I will run midline against a 2 without a problem. If the 2 pinches, we will run veer the very next play.

I agree that you have to take away the team's best threat. It gets tough when 2 or all 3 are good. Then I agree that you should make them pitch.
Last year we faced an option team with a very good QB and TB. We Did our best to take away both, but I put the most emphasis on tackling the QB. We won a close game, but in the playoffs the team faced a team who ran right to the pitch and did not cover the QB very well. They wanted to punish him and frustrate the TB. It worked like a charm. The QB had some big runs, but took a beating and the TB got frustrated and started whining... they got creamed by a team that wasn't that much better.
Anyway, just thought I'd throw that out there. I don't like letting a good QB run, but that way obviously works too in some situations.

HEY LOU,

I can't agree with your statement that you have to have superior talent to stop the triple, What it takes is defensive staff and head coach that put their heads together and come up with a very strict game plan of having each defender know his assignment, and then NOT DEVIATE FROM IT. Just by alignment, you can take the BEST runner away in the PSL, and you can take the other two out of the play by playing strict assignment football. The problem with most HS level teams is that they get greedy and want to make all the tackles,leave their assignment and get themselves out of position. When they start that baloney, your usually dead in the water.

Jerry

Jerry - I'm not sure we're on the same page. In the game we played, the QB was probably a better athlete / threat to run, but both he and the TB were all-state players. The FB wasn't bad, but nothing like the QB and TB. We were definitely trying to make them give it to the FB, but most of the time I think they predetermined a pull.
If I have to pick whether to put 2 defenders on a good QB or TB, I would rather take the QB away. He might get selfish and keep it when he shouldn't, or he might make a bad pitch, or by making them pitch we have a little more time to hopefully string out the play. This is my current philosophy - things can certainly change.
Also, isn't the purpose of true option football to punish teams that are strictly assignment teams? I certainly agree you must have assignments and be disciplined, but you better be able to switch up your responsibilities vs the option in my experience or you are in trouble. Agree?

CUI & Coach Holtz,

CUI- Totally agree that switching assignments is vital to any option defense, AFTER YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT THE OFFENSE IS DOING TO YOU. In my opinion, you had better have iornclad assigments for an overall game plan for your defense. Changes are precipitated out of necessity, certainly, but not just for the sake of changing up. Again, just my opinion. I appreciate yours.

Coach Holtz- Although I run a 3 x 2 spread now, I ran the option for a lot of years, and I mean alot, on the High School level. I certainly consider myself to be knowledgeable in both offensive and defensive techniques of this great brand of football. I still run a triple package at my present level to augment our running game. It is my opinion that if you don't play assignment football against a HS level opponent, you will find your guys getting out of position and trying to do too much. Perhaps that is just my philosophy but I don't really think so. I appreciate your thoughts as you sound like an experienced option coach to me.

Coach Easton

Coach Holtz,

I appreciate your response and understand your thought process. Thanks for sharing that.

I started coaching my 3 x 2 spread almost 18 years ago or more now. I got the formation from Mike Krusik, the former head coach at Univ. of Central Florida. He ran the formation when he was a QB for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I certainly take no credit for the formation but have built an extensive play book over the ensuing years that is mine. Recent health problems that are very serious in nature forced me from the field after 42 years of being active on it as a coach. I content myself with trying to help young coaches and QB's and receivers on my website, and here on this forum of which I have been active for some two years or more now. I started running the spread long before it ever gained anywhere near the popularity it enjoys today. I built a record of 78 wins, and 23 losses during regular season play and won two Div. Championships, 7 play off wins, and won the 1994 AFL Superbowl. I was selected to coach the Southern
Div. Pro Bowl team and we won that game 16-7 the same year. I built that record with my 3 x 2 spread as my main offensive thrust, but always kept an option package as a very active part of any and all game plans. Just like any offense, you absolutely have to have the right players to fill the key spots. At our level it takes a very talented two dimensional QB who can really deal if you want to win consistently. But, without doubt, IMO, it is an offense that is built for high scoring! Example, we were trailing in the semi-final round of the 1994 playoffs 16-14 with 3 min. and 33 seconds to go on the clock in regulation time. We hit a 65 yd all up pattern, kicke the extra point to go up 21 to 16. We kicked off, they panicked and tried to get the lead back in one play- result we picked off a pass they had thrown to about our 5 yd line and ran it back to their 30! Ran the ball into the middle for 3 plays and kicked a 40 yd field goal to ice the game with 1 min-29 seconds to go on the clock and won the right to play in the 1994 Super Bowl game.

Coach Easton

Coah Metz,

I used the same rules from Coach Royal for many years and they were very effective indeed for us, as we too ran the bone. Your post tells me that you have been around a while too, eh?

Coach Easton