ISO Companions

SCOTT,

When we ran the option for a lot of years on the high school level, I always tried to have a bevy of good complimentary plays and of course running the ice was one of the major ones! In relation, we ran 26 power out of the Pro with the "I" backs, sweeps (which I long ago replaced with a hitch pass which is a much more expedient way of getting the ball on the perimeter) counter traps, power dives wich we ran off the same action that we ran the ISV( If I called 30 DIVE OPTION, THE QB READ IT AND WE RAN THE ISV. IF I JUST CALLED 30 dive and ommited the word option, it became an automatic give to the FB) and play action passes which were all off option action as I believe any option team, or any team for that matter, should run play action off their best running plays. Just my way.

Coach Easton

One of the three toughest runs that we had to stop this year was the blast cutback. You need to teach your tailback to cutback to the backside on the iso. I will never forget the look on our kids' faces when we played Hudson Valley and we would run to the ball then the running back would cutback outside of the will and get yards. We had to spy the tailback with our free safety out of our 46 defense, because we could not stop it. We had the top scoring defense in the country this year and I can honestly say that other than the triple option we saw from Bucknell and Navy, we could not stop that run. I hope that you consider teaching it with your iso. Good luck.

Coach,

We run a number of complimentary plays with the "Lead" (Iso)

1. Lead Reverse (fake iso action and run an outside reverse to your Z or WB going the opposite way)
2. Lead Counter (like a Counter Trey, GT lead against initial flow)
3. Lead Bend (designed cut-back play, as described by coaches above)
4. Lead Trap (FB trap, with the TB faking lead hard downhill to the backside.)

And obviously, there are a ton of great playaction passes as well...

Lochness brings up four great plays to use in an effort to aid the iso. We saw a lot of counter trey to compliment the iso, the trap is very effective, the reverse is great especially if you're going to run iso more than 25 percent of the time, and bend/cutback is the best suggestion--it is so tough to stop! Great topic!

lochness,

Did you try having the C and G use a fold scheme to get at that backside LB? That is another way to avoid having their NT account for two of your men. IMO it is a good tactic for undersized OL.

We run an ISO play, with the FB taking the unblocked LB. If the D changes its front so that a DLMen is in the hole then we make a line call (made by the centre) to either move up or down a hole, or change the clocking scheme totally.

We also run a dive play using a sort of zone blocking - we have seen the LB shed the call carrier to try and get to the TB, which was an unexpect bonus

You need to make sure that the backside guard blocks #1 backside and the tackle blocks #2 backside. All they need to do is to get a hat on them and that should suffice. Hudson Valley did this to us, because of how hard we pursue to the ball. The cutback off the iso and the triple option were the two toughest running plays we faced, because it took away our aggressiveness.

I also believe that a QB should be able to take and give a hit. During my one season playing as a QB (cut short by a broken wrist), my coach not only expected that I took part in all the general tackling/blocking/hitting drills, but took the lead by being the first in line.

The QB we have this year is one of the hardest hitting players it has been my privledge to coach, and we often use him to seal off the offside DE, and he has knocked a couple over all ready

Jerry;

As you know I went to college as an OL and ended up playing mostly DL because of our programs needs - but I was always included every year in any "Hoggie Shuffles" and often took reps as a back-up tackle and guard when the crunch time of the year ended (I learned our offense inside out! - I can still tell you the calls we'd make on pass pro and in certain runs!)

I always loved a QB who was a tough sun of a gun. We had 2 in my years in college - and BOTH are still playing in the German Pro League (in fact I believe one is the equivalent of Peyton Manning there and has been since about 1997!). It was their willingness to stand in, make the tough throw or drop the shoulder for tough yards that got them into our hearts (our one QB was even made of 'glass' but he STILL did it). Another hallmark they had was they NEVER blamed the OL when a sack or breakdown happened. There was no fingerpointing or blame (he didn't have to), just a trust that we were all doing our best for him!

I'm a HUGE lover of option ball. In fact I grew up on Michigan and Nebraska - and I am still a big fan of the Nebraska power run & option game to this day. As I said the dive option was a BIG play for us with the current QB we have last year in JV - we'll put it in again.

We're also discussing ways to move the pocket on offense - our QB isn't blessed height wise but is quick, competitive and has a great arm; hence he has some troubles seeing downfield from the pocket. He's more of a runner. I'm thinking we'll go with some sprint out or semi-roll type action, along with the playaction so he can get closer to the edge. My OC isn't 'experienced' in moving the pocket - and we did some movement stuff at a previous school with a sprint-out and dash protection (lots of curl/flats, and comeback routes run deep).

Coach,

I think you can surely run it that way. We run a WB / slot counter with the TE GDB rule and no lead puller, and it works just fine. Usually, with our rules, the lead puller (whoever that may be) is just an added bonus, maybe somebody to clean up a missed block or blow up an alley safety.

As a short guy playing QB, I soon discovered there were two ways to beat the handicap: You can take a deeper drop or you can learn to move and create passing lanes on your own. I opted for the latter and was fortunate to have coaches who supported me by letting me learn to throw on the move, which just happened to come naturally to me. When you move, you become a target for every nasty LB playing the game and dreams about tearing your head off! You learn to be tough, or take up a new past time. You have to be a tough runner as running from the QB slot is much different than running from a RB slot. I always used the bowling ball and the bowling pin concept by telling my guys when you roll a ball down the alley, which goes flying the ball or the pin? Naturally it is the pin so don't be a pin just waiting to be hit, but be the ball and looking for trouble to send someone flying!!!

Coach Easton