Yet another post on the Point Method

Coach,

If you get any good video leads, let me know. I'm more from the split-back Outside veer frame of mind, but the point method is something that I've been trying to wrap my head around as well. I would love to see it in action and see what the differences actually look like. Thanks.

kelly.fbcoach@gmail.com

Coach Easton,

I'm sure I've posted you on this before, but, honestly I've never taught a back to reach for the ball. My RB's always keep their eyes straight forward through thier launch point--if they look at the QB they slow down, and if they are slowing down, they are not playing RB. I teach my backs to keep a flat shelf with thier lower arm so that there is no issues with the QB pulling and keeping. Now I do teach the QB to bring the ball back a bit, but--especially on an outside veer, its not much. From your explanations that I've read through, I'm realizing that I teach something inbetween the Point Method, and the Ride and Decide. I've had young QB's who do virtually exactly what you describe, but I've never been impressed with the fake that gives the defense. I've always thought that the read is the hardest thing for the kids to conceptualize--especially the QB. I feel that a little riding (now I'm not talking about riding from 6 o'clock to 12, more like 4:30 to 2:00) gives a better playfake for everyone to bite on and gives the QB a little more time. I think the Point Method is perfect for the double wing looks where the RB is 3y behind the ball and it is happening at lightning speed, but out of a split-back set, I think the riding is essential for fakes--and play-action passing off of the option. Please don't take this as a "my system is better than yours" statement, I've gotten a ton out of your posts; I'm just trying to keep things straight in my mind, and I don't think my teaching methods are that much different than what you've been describing. Your thoughts?

Coach Easton,

Thanks for your reply and I really do respect your views, from reading your posts on these forums there is no question you know your stuff. I was simply looking for some visual aids because I know I learn better if I get to talk through it with questions along the way (which is not really possible on the internet) or see it in action.

I agree with you 100% that the "Ride and Decide" mesh is unnatural and very difficult to teach, that is why I'm so intrigued. I don't need to be convinced, I'd just like to actually see it with my own eyes. Also getting some film of it to watch with my Quarterback as we're installing it would help. The "Lack of Playfake" argument doesn't really bother me because I don't think of Option as a deceptive counter play, I think of it as to whether they assign somebody to tackle the Fullback or not. If this is simpler to execute and easier to learn for a Quarterback that has never run option before than I sure am interested....but I still want to see it with my own eyes.

I will try to call Carson-Newman College and get some films from them, thanks for the suggestion.

And for others, I'm a bit of a film junkie so if any others have film they'd like to share, I'm interested.

Jr.

I don't mean to speak for Coach Easton, but I copied this from a post he previously wrote and put it on my desktop, it may anwer your question... (Outside Veer stuff toward the bottom).

"As an EX-QB and QB coach, in my opinion, there is no comparison to the two techniques. I rode the "ride and decide" for long years. Then, I found a new way that was run by Carson Newman called "the point technique" and I haven't looked back to this day and that was the fall of 1988! It is so much better than putting your arms back, which is uncomfortable at best while keeping your head in the opposite direction to make your read. In the point, you take your escape step and drive DOWNHILL at your read. It is absolutely imperative that you get a downhill surge from your 0 line in order to be successful so that the QB can step right up into the very edge of the hole and sometimes actually right into it before transferring the ball, in any option, in my opinion.

I teach that the QB takes his deep step escape (6:00 not 4:00 or 8:00 to the backside) and GATHERS his front foot to his back foot and drives DOWNHILL directly at his read man. I THEN TELL THE QB/RB THE FOLLOWING: IF THE BALL IS STILL IN THE POINT POSITITION AT THE MESH, IT IS THE FB'S BALL, PERIOD!!! When I was first introduced to the technique all I could visualize was mass fumbles! THE EXACT OPPOSITE IS TRUE, WE REDUCED OUR FUMBLES AT THE MESH POINT BY ALMOST 100%!!! CONVERSELY, THE DIVE BACK MUST ALSO KNOW THAT IF THE BALL IS NOT THERE AND IS PULLED AT THE LAST SECOND, HE MUST NEVER REACH FOR THE BALL AS IT IS NO LONGER HIS!!! UNLESS THE FB RUNS CLEANLY THROUGH THE MESH AND CLOSES DOWN ON THE BALL IN HIS CRADLE, HE DOES NOT TOUCH THE FOOTBALL.

The technique that I teach my QB's is very simple. As they drive off the gather step they hold the ball with two pressure points (both hands) directly in front of their numbers. On the inside veer it is a simple matter of escape step, gather, drive, and point the ball directly at his read. If it is there at the mesh, he simply releases the ball into the dive backs cradle and carries out his assigned fake.

On the OSV, he will have to take that extra step or two because of the distance of his read (EMOLS) BUT HE MUST NEVER RUN PARALLEL TO THE LOS, HE MUST FOLLOW THAT DOWNHILL SURGE OF HIS LINE. If your line is just stalemating and staying on the LOS, you will never have any success to speak of. Sure, even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then, but CONSISTENCY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME. IT IS WAY TOO EASY TO BEND IT BACK (QB) IF HIS PATH GETS BUBBLED ON THE OSV AS HE IS NOW AWAY FROM HIS READ. THAT IS NOT WHERE YOU WANT HIM TO BE AS IT BECOMES VERY EASY FOR THE EMLOS TO GIVE HIM A FUZZY READ AND SCREW HIS HEAD UP. If his path becomes bubbled, he must be taught to escape the penetration but recover and drive right back DOWNHILL and not stay back from the LOS.

I was the QB coach at a very successful High School program in 4-AAAA football in Florida that ran the triple out of a base mix of bone and "I". We went 33-3 the first years I was there; going 10-0 in regular season play twice. We never went back to the ride and decide ever again. I have coached this technique for a long time, and I unequivocally state without hesitation that the point technique is far superior, in my opinion. I've have just told you all there is to it, nothing more to add except the reps with your QB and FB. YOU WILL BE SURPRISED HOW FAST THE KIDS ADAPT TO IT AND PREFER IT.

The reason in my mind for the easy adaptation by the QB is it is so much easier than the other technique.
Try it and see if you like it, is all I can offer."

Thanks a ton, Coach Easton.

Hey i'm just throwing this in here. I discovered these boards today and just feel like i have alot of catching up to do. I'm a double tight option guy for the most part. I've had the joy of coaching Freshman while in college. When teaching Quarterbacks Option for the first time, and with little time on top of it, I've found sometimes i've had to use a numbers game where the quarterback goes through the cadence and his steps with a live fullback. He always hands off at first but his eyes have to go to me and he has to tell me what number i'm holding up. It sounds real simple but it's helped make long days much shorter.

Well I use this drill 1st to simply get quarterbacks eyes away from the ball carrier and to me and to stay on me during a mesh. I make them hand it off to make sure they made the mesh because i am looking at there eyes not the mesh. Our youth league runs traditional isolation plays, and our middleschool coaches are hit and miss when it comes to teaching option, so my quarterbacks have always felt uncomfortable with trying to mesh with a fullback that they are not looking at so they always want to peek back at him. I use this drill only to get there heads to stay on a read key the entire time. Once they have done this we move to them reading me simply taking a step upfield or down, the quarterback responding as necessary. We always teach when in doubt, give. If you miss read follow. Also, let the defender decide who has the ball. Alot of quarterbacks i've come across do not like making the decision of who is going to carry the ball. So i've gotten them to beleive that the defender is making the decision for them. I was referring to the fact, that his quarterbacks have never run option before and the first year can be sometimes ugly and rough.

hey Coach Easton.

Yea the school I coach at is definately ride and decide. I definately like the idea of the point method with our inside veer and midline plays. The majority of our fumbles are when we get hit during our mesh. Especially since we gamble at times and run midline at two techniques (they tilt towards our guards). Would it be possible to teach point method on the inside veer and midline but still coach ride and decide on outside veer? We are double tight wishbone about 75% of the time on a good night.

Hey Coach Easton,

Ha, well we allow flexibility with the fullback path. If we get good movement on the down blocks we let the fullback go vertical sooner. If our line gets no movement or some penetration occurs the QB will push the path wider. When we do A-Frame we use another fullback as a path key and he will take a step forward, backward, down and out to simulate penetration or movement and our paths will adjust. I know it's a little crazy but we rep it a ton. Our rule is basically the Fullback runs off the downblock, on the 1st on the line threat from the read key. Is it possible to teach point method without traditional fullback path rules? A few of the teams at the option camps we go to have gone to the point method, but i've only seen it a little.