Playing with a small line

I've always thought that if you have small undersized linemen then run some form of option. That way you don't have to worry about people at the point of attack. Smaller guys are usually better at blocking the second level.

In ZONE & COUNTER/POWER blocking you are seeking double teams. That HELPS small O-Line BECAUSE they are getting help (AKA: "ASS PROTECTION").

IF they are good enough, they are big enough!

How about running wing-t stuff. Create angles with the down blocks and pull guys to outnumber them. We always had an undersized line at my former school and ran the boot, trap, and buck sweep with a lot of success. We also mixed in a bit of veer option, but it wasn't our base because we never really had the QB who could pull it off. Coach Mountjoy's suggestions were also a significant part of what we did. Tons of play action and misdirection really made up for the lack of size in our linemen. Just my two cents.

Coach4Life,
I'd have to agree with the other coaches on this one. Going with the Option (which we run) or the Wing T creates angles & double teams which help undersized lineman. However, this may not be helping you as Coach Cella had asked earlier when you already have most of your offense installed. My best advice for you now would be to concentrate on getting them to fire out low & hard & then getting their hips under them as they bring the second step and punch. I've seen smaller guys move HUGE D-linemen with just these basic fundamentals & the will to win the battle in the trenches. Coach em up...make em bigger than what they are!

Coaches,

Thanks so much for all your input. I've always based off of IZ, OZ & Counter, in large part to what I've learned from Jerry Campbell, Bill Mountjoy, and this board. Love the scheme and play action off of it (especially the bootlegs) but I'm thinking with the fast guys we've got I have to find a way to get it in their hands in open grass.

The scheme I've been thinking about is to pread the field for Bubble, Hitches, Rocket, Verticals, Smash, Curl/Flat. etc., and the Option runs to get that "extra blocker" advantage. Now I'm debating Veer/Midline/Load from the Pro set as Coach Campbell advises, or spread it and bring a man in motion a la Utah or just base everything out of Double Wing aka Navy and use the R&S pass schemes. I know the Zone well, have run the option as a QB in the past and tinkered with it in my offense. I know if I go Option it's got to be a base scheme that is repped to death. Toby Peer also gave me some good ideas at Oneback's clinic. Base formations will be Pro, 2x2, 3x1 (if I can get an outside invert away from the single receiver side it's an automatic Speed option), Gangster (Double Wing).

Wing T was my other thought, but I don't know the Wing T well enough to teach it (as Coach Campbell says "Don't teach what you can't fix"). I've started my installs by teaching the base drive block (I've come up with what I think is a great sequence for introducing that if anyone is interested), then working on combos, down blocks and the veer move to log the LBs. For the backs and Qbs it's the mesh and pitch, of course, and for the outside guys who to block and who not to block.

Again, thanks men, I just wanted to confirm my thinking with some other folks before I head down that road. Any other thoughts or ideas are of course appreciated.

1st Step...Punch...2nd Step...

I'll pay closer attention when watching film Coach Easton...see which of my linemen are doing this and which are most successful. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Coach4Life,
I agree with Coach Cella. We tried to fix problems last year with schemes instead of getting better at the things we already did. What happened is our guys knew a bunch of plays and never really executed any of them well. Our 2nd scrimmage this year, we had 150+ yards on the ground with 6 run plays installed (Thanks for the help Coach Cella). Our guys still made some mistakes but the mistakes weren't blocking the wrong guy. Good luck this season!

CHEWBAKKA,

THAT ATTITUDE INDICATES TO ME THAT YOUR PART OF A STAFF THAT WANTS THEIR KIDS TO BE ALL THEY CAN BE (WITHOUT JOINING THE ARMY)! GOOD FOR Y'ALL.

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE

Jerry, as a coach, you never stop learning. It's amazing to be on the field for NFL training camps, hanging out with NFL coaches, and having access to the highest level of football. I try to back up all my posts with facts, statistical analysis, and high-level coaches who have evaluated the given topic. Hopefully, I can make a difference with somebody on this board as so many have done for me.

Chewbakka,

Shoot me an email. I am located in SE Ohio and I would love to talk option football with you.

coachjn@gmail.com