Installing the Midline

Ryan Shimizu

I have never been a huge fan of this style of offense probably because I have never played in it and I have spent a lot of my career on the defensive side. When I watch teams that run this scheme such as Army or Navy, I honestly get a little bored. However, when it works, it's incredible. I am a firm believer that it doesn't matter what offensive scheme you run, it only matters how you execute it. I am more of a zone read, RPO type of guy if I have to run the option, but after reading the slides of "Option on Me" I have become more interested in this type of scheme.



After reading the slides, I learned a lot about the concept of "Option on Me." I think this is a really good concept if you run this kind of scheme. The concept is simple because it is based on counting and making the right read after the snap. The QB has to make sure there are 6 in the box and maybe 1 or inverts. So if you see 6 in the box with no invert on the opposite side of the TE, you should run Inside Veer away from the TE. If you see 6 in the box with a invert on both sides of the formation and the strong tackle is in the 3 tech, you should run Midline in the strong A gap. If there is 7 in the box with no invert on the TE side, you should run Load.



Although this is not my style of offensive, the lesson that I learned is that I can take this concept and implement it to fit my style. I think it is extremely important for the QB to be able to change the play based on what he sees. We see this all the time in the NFL. Often times you will see the QB use a hard count or dummy count just to see what the defense is doing so he can pick the correct play or stay with the play called in the huddle.