Defending triple option / Flexbone with unbalanced Formations

jwcoop's approach is sound. Don't follow the motion vs option teams. As far as alignment, I may shift my SAM down onto the LOS and play him outside shade on the last man on the LOS, have DE reduces to head up on the OT, what we called our Bear front (may also shift ILB's over a gap, if we can't handle the numbers game)--if in overload, the last man on LOS won't be an eligible reciever...OLB read the downblock, play off the wing and he has pitch/contain. If wing goes away, he looks counter/boot/screen. If working against a wing-T, we told an OLB who had motion away, to key the near back watching for toss as well. Could also shift the Backside OLB down and move DL toward overload into a 50-type front vs overload as well. Backside OLB would only have to worry about a RB crossing his face for pass.

There are a lot of ways they can "unbalance". GENERALITIES are:

#1 - KNOW ELIGIBLES

#2 - HOW WILL VARIOUS MOTIONS AFFECT YOUR ADJUSTMENT(S)

#3 - KNOW TENDENCIES FROM EACH FORMATION/MOTION (WHAT THEY CAN OR CANNOT RUN)

Can't get diagrams on the site. Feel free to contact me & I can send them to you.
billmountjoy@yahoo.com (or PHONE 804-716-7038 in Va.)

PS: I need to know your BASE front & coverage! We don't USE a 33 Stack, but have successfully defended the Flexbone Triple from 4-4, 4-2-5, 6-2, & 5-2.
COVER 1 ADJUSTMENTS VS. UNBALANCED LOOKS:
1. SLOT ALIGNS OVER — OLB GOES OVER.
2. WR ALIGNS OVER — CORNER GOES OVER.


IDEAS DEFENDING THE OPTION (This is everything we teach):

Coach Bill Mountjoy

1. LESS IS BETTER (don't try to do too much)!

2. Make things happen quick for the QB — make offense speed up everything they do.

3. Hits on QB — FB will be key to you winning. ATTACK (create TURNOVERS) — tackle the Fullback LOW (hit him EVERYTIME).

4. Run down QB from backside — hit him low from behind.

5. Secondary (hungry to be involved in the run).

6. Pre-Season take 4-5 day section to work on the option.

7. Practice Specifics — Half Line (without ball)

8. Monday — work on option 15 minutes regardless who you play.

9. PRACTICE WITHOUT THE BALL: Tackle EACH option in the "Triple Option". The Linebackers have to contend with blocking below the knees, & removing the football has helped in that regard because when they look at the ball it exposes their legs for a "cut" block.

10. Vs. "Cut" Blocks: Staying on your feet starts with your hands. That's the secret to fending off the low, cut-blocks You just got to put two hands on him, one on his helmet and one on his back, and you've got to bend your knees. You've got to focus on the blocker first. You've got to get your hands on him with a good bend in your knees. Obviously up front, with the guy in front of you, you've got to get your hands on him quick. When you're out in space, you've got to protect your outside leg and play with a good bend in your ankles and your knees and your hips. And bench press that guy down and away from you, and if you need to, you need to give ground to gain ground, just to keep your feet.

11. TEACH THE "COMMON SENSE" RULE (can be used in ANY front) = assign each player a portion of the option that threatens the area (gap control) that he aligns in, or stunts to:
a. D Gap player has pitch.
b. C Gap player has QB
c. A & B gap players have the dive.
THEN - add to the above assignments the words "OR THE FIRST MAN TO SHOW WITH THE BALL". Thus, if I an the Defensive End whose main assignment is QB on the option, my rule is "QB OR THE FIRST MAN THAT CHALLENGES ME WITH THE BALL". By doing this should a blocking scheme or play cause our option coverage to break down at a given point, players will be ready to make the necessary adjustment.

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"HAWK/COVER 1" (4-4 or 4-2-5):


SECONDARY: COVER 1
A) CORNERS = 2 YDS. INSIDE #1 x 8 YDS. DEEP. STAY INSIDE #1 AT ALL TIMES.
B) FREE SAFETY = 8 YDS. DEEP ON THE "POINT" (BALL). VS. MOTION — SLIDE OVER ON OT AND READ #2. IF #2 RELEASES VERTICAL — COVER HIM. IF #2 WALLS ON ILB OR BLOCKS DE — COME UP FOR PITCH ON OPTION. IF #2 ARCS OLB — COME UP FOR QB ON OPTION.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS: LINE UP 2 YDS. OUTSIDE WINGS x 2 YDS. OFF LOS. READ WINGS (#2). IF WING ARCS — TAKE PITCH ON OPTION. IF WING WALLS ILB OR BLOCKS DE — TAKE QB ON OPTION (MAKE HIM GET THE B ALL OUT OF HIS HANDS QUICK). DROPBACK PASS — LOCK ONTO WING. PLAY ACTION TO YOU — IF WING RELEASES OUTSIDE — COVER HIM M/M; IF WING RELEASES VERTICAL OR CROSSES — LET HIM GO AND TAKE QB. IF WING MOTIONS AWAY AND FLOW GOES AWAY — FOLDS BACK BEHIND DEF. LINE LOOKING FOR CUTBACKS, OR RECEIVERS CROSSING FROM OTHER SIDE.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS: LINE UP IN A GAPS WITH YOUR TOES ON LINE WITH TOES OF DEF. TACKLES.
A) "TRACK THE FULLBACK" — LB TO SIDE FB COMES FROM MOVES UP QUICKLY ON LOS AIMING FOR CENTER'S SHOULDER TO THAT SIDE, AND ATTACKS THE "V" IN THE CENTER'S NECK.
B) "TRACK THE FULLBACK" - LB AWAY FROM SIDE FB COMES FROM QUICKLY STACKS BEHIND THE UP LB (NOSE ON THE CENTER), AND KEYS FULLBACK. PLAY FROM DIVE TO QB TO PITCH. VS. PASS — MLB KEYS FULLBACK AND WILL TAKE HIM IF HE LEAKS OUT (IF HE BLOCKS TAKE FIRST DAYLIGHT AND RUSH PASSER).

DEFENSIVE TACKLES: LINE UP IN 4I TECHNIQUE (YOUR OUTSIDE SHOE JUST INSIDE OF OT'S INSIDE SHOE). ON SNAP PINCH INSIDE HARD OFF HIP OF OG'S AND TACKLE DIVE (OR ANYTHING THAT SHOWS).

DEFENSIVE ENDS: LINE UP IN A 6 TECHNIQUE HEAD UP ON WINGS (#2 RECEIVERS). IF UNBLOCKED, PLAY FROM FIRST THREAT TO QB. IF BLOCKED — BE A FOOTBALL PLAYER. CONTAIN QB ON ALL PASSES (FORCE WING TO TAKE OUTSIDE RELEASE). ON FLOW AWAY — CHECK FOR BOOTLEGS-COUNTERS-REVERSES.


COVER 1 ADJUSTMENTS VS. UNBALANCED LOOKS:
1. SLOT ALIGNS OVER — OLB GOES OVER.
2. WR ALIGNS OVER — CORNER GOES OVER.


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This is ALL the detail I can give. If there are ANYMORE questions = PHONE me at 804-716-7038. Please don't post anymore questions before phoning (very busy at this time = I can't type & my Secretary is swamped)!