4-3 vs. Flexbone

how much option did you see? and what coverage were you playing?

We havent seen much option, even though we've practice against it because its seems like a natural with this offense. Last season we saw a ton of counter trey and power toss - leading with the fullback and frontside guard, while tossing the ball to a wing who had orbit motioned to the tail position. Our OLB's often got cracked, the wings would down block and our MLB would get have trouble working through the trash. We saw down blocks on the line. Traditional flexbone stuff. We were not the speediest team out there on D. This year we should be quicker, but will be lighter at the LB and DB spots.

As far as coverage, we played mostly cover 3 with a robber. The robber was supposed to pursue inside out but was often late, so we're thinking about cover 2 sky/cloud.

This sounds like the Jet Series offense. What is flexbone?

My understanding of what is called the Flexbone is the following

One back behind the QB - depth varies, usually about 4-5 yards (QB lined up behind center)

2 split ends

a wing back to each side.

FB


Wg QB Wg
Wr T G C G T Wr




Often get the Wg to either side either orbit motion or straight motion. Orbit motion Wing becomes a TB on the snap, and the opponent can run power/lead, Option - theoretically, or the remaining Wg counter and counter trey. The inside power game isnt that great, but the system is pretty effective off tackle and outside.

Straight motion gets you power on the perimeter, counter criss cross

You get a lot of Wing T / double wing type misdirection backfield action with the ability to get 4 recievers into routes. It also helps the Wings to get better blocking angles on perimeter players, or solid down blocks onto LB.

This is for first coach asking about flex bone. Remember when ever facing a double wing look, the 3 yd rule
comes into effect. The 3 yd rule states that if the WB is aligned within 3 yds. from the T on either side, then the DE or EMOL aligns on his outside shoulder. If he is wider than 3 yds. then the defender comes right back in and aligns as a 5 tech. on either tackle. If he is wider than the 3 yds. then he is covered by the SS on the front side and the Will backer on the Backside. This alleviates him getting outside of your DE's.

This is for the second coach facing the bone: Having run the bone for a lot of years on the HS level, and with a tremendous amount of success at it, I will be the first to tell you that discipline, as in facing any option, is paramount. Having a good tackle in a 50 front, who knows how to grab cloth and hold up your OT who is trying not to even get caught up while releasing to the 2nd level defender, is worth his weight in gold. Play him in a straight up 4 tech, as a 4i or a 5 will automatically dictate to the opposing QB to either give or pull. Make him read it! tackle who can keep his man from releasing and give the QB a fuzzy read is the nemisis of all option QB's. Discipline comes into play on the backside! The end must come across squared up, his head on a swivel, looking for the reverse, the counter option, etc. and not giving up his area of responsibility in favor of normal away procedure of trailing at the depth of the ball. If he gets out of position, a good bone OC will pick that up instantly and take immediate advantage of it! He must stay home, as well as, the WLB who is watching for the cutback. On anything run to the perimeter, tell your SS or OLB to expect the angle block from the FB, or if they break the bone on occasion as all good bone teams do, always be alert for the crack by the wideout. Be sure and tell your CB's to communicate the oncoming crack or your guy will get wiped out!!! Have your fundamentals on defending the Inside and outside veer, power, iso's, wham actions down pat as that is what you will see. A true bone team will only throw 10-12 times a game, if that much. Almost all passes will come off play action, or at least they should, IMO. It takes really tough, hardnosed inside backers to stop the bone. If they are timid, half steppers, you will get killed! The OLB's have to have good lateral pursuit skills, as well as, the ability to scrape and put their body on the RB on inside stuff! Your FS has to be able to come rolling down hill, UNDER CONTROL, but at full speed to meet a RB in the alley and lay a real lick on his butt! Defending the bone successfully takes a very physical defense to get the job done, as well as, smart players to know how to diagnose and react to the various wrinkles that always develop in the course of a night facing an option team. BUT, AGAIN I EMPHASIZE , BACKSIDE DISCIPLINE IS THE KEY. BE EXPECTING QUICK PITCHES BY THE QB IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE BALL ON THE PERIMETER WHEN EVER THEY RUN SOMETHING TO THE OPEN SIDE, BECAUSE THAT IS HOW THEY ARE COACHED, TO GET RID OF THE BALL QUICKLY WHEN GOING BACKSIDE! WATCH FOR THE LEAD OPTIONS AND THE COUNTERS TO THE WEAKSIDE ALL NIGHT LONG, DON'T GET CAUGHT OUT OF POSITION!!! I LOVED TO RUN LOADS TO THE BACKSIDE AS WELL, BE EXPECTING ANYTHING. Best of luck when you face the bone, in my opinion it is still one of the best offenses ever devised.

J.C.Easton

GOOD VS "FLEXBONE" WITH TRIPLE OPTION!

SECONDARY: Cover 1
A) Corners = 1 yard inside #1 x 8 yds. deep. Stay inside #1 at all times.
B) Free Safety = 8 yds. deep splitting the #2 receivers. Vs. motion — slide over on OT and read #2. If #2 releases vertical , cover him . If #2 blocks — come up for pitch (or any run support). If no motion — split #2 receivers — normal F/S play..

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 blocks Def. End — take QB on option. 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, fold 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. Vs. motion — LB on opposite side motion comes from moves up quickly on LOS tight on Center's nose, and plays a "0" technique. Linebacker on side motion comes from stacks behind 0 technique LB, 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).
NOTE: If no motion — Left LB moves to 0 technique and Right LB moves to MLB.

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 passes (force Wing to take outside release) and check for bootlegs-counters-reverses..

He would come back down to about 1 yd outside the OT & CRASH to the "mesh point" in the conventional "Triple" scheme. Vs this look - offense most likely will SEAL OR WALL with slot (on Inside LB) rather than arc release. THEN - E has dive (at mest point), OLB goes to QB RIGHT NOW - making him get the ball OUT OF HIS HANDS) & F/S runs to pitch (the "overlapping" of responsibilities is good clinic talk - but we want to turn this into a quick sweep - not a delayed option).

#1 rushing college flexbone team in USA was held to 87 yards rushing & 1 TD with this scheme a couple of years ago. Won't mention the teams (unless you contact me privately) becauseI don't want to violate any confidences that the defensive coach placed in me.