One Back Option Game

Thru the use of MOTION - you can run just about ANY option from a 1 Back as you can from a 2 Back (AND in the 1-Back, there is always a greater stretch on the defense & pass threat).

The SPEED (down the line) option is the simplest way to go from a 1-Back!

As to the FB being 4 1/2 yds - you can deepen him to 5 1/2 & run most of the other 1 Back runs (it doesn't affect the Counter & Inside Zone, although it is a LITTLE tight for the Outside Zone, but you can still run it). In the "glory years" of the Redskins - RIGGINS' ran those plays with his heels at 5 1/2. See article by Bill Walsh below:

TAKEN FROM BILL WALSH LECTURE AT 2003 AFCA CONVENTION

" I’ve notice a lot of coaches place the tailback at nine yards depth, even at eight and sometimes seven. We know that the tailback from that position can cut back or bend outside. The tailback has some options as he’s viewing the blocking in front of him. But we also know that the tailback has at least three or four more steps to take before he gets to the line of scrimmage. So the offensive lineman or lead back have to hold their blocks that much longer.

With that in mind, PROBABLY THE BEST RUNNING GAME I HAVE SEEN IN ALL OF FOOTBALL WAS THE REDSKINS WITH JOHN RIGGINS. His heels were at five-and-a-half yards depth. He would counter step if he needed to allow time for the pulling people to get in front of him. But what we do is give up three or four steps to linebackers’ pursuit if we line up especially deep.

I suggest that you run the same exact plays with your tailback five-and-a-half yards deep. If he needs to, he can counter step to allow blocking to form. But we don’t allow linebackers to get full pursuit on us. We don’t allow people to have three or four steps movement as we take three or four steps farther to get to the line of scrimmage”.