Best Option Formation?

Coach I I'm the Head Coach at a very large school and also find it hard at times to find a good tight end due to the fact that this position has so much to learn with pass and run game. So the best option formation for me is the slotted "I" back formation. SLot the tight end (receiver) 6 yards outside the tackle. Coach CAmpbell

Newbie to the site and I am thoroughly impressed. We have run the spread option at our school for the past five years. We run the Georgia Southern / Naval Academy package. We have been in the same boat as you CoachD86, and have not been blessed with many good TE's. In order to run our option package effectively, we have used the following philosophies when attacking 8 man and 50 defenses.

Versus 8 man fronts, we seldom use a TE anyways. We like to use our unbalanced double slot formation with two WR's to the same side. Both WR's are on the LOS so the inside WR is ineligible. This forces the 8 man front defense to make an adjustment to the unbalanced formation.
- If the defense does not adjust and keeps 8 in the box with a CB still to the nub side, we are going to throw a lateral to the inside
receiver and use the outside receiver to block the corner (2-on-1 situation). We also can step up a slot back to the LOS and step-
back the inside WR and throw combo routes. We will force the defense to adjust somehow to the unbalanced formation.
- If the playside OSLB adjusts out, we will run midline and ISV to the unbalanced side.
- If the defense brings both CB's over to play both WR's, we will run midline, ISV, and jet sweep back to the nub side.

Versus 50 fronts, we use a sixth offensive lineman as a TE (if we are fortunate enough to have a decent sixth OL). If we do not have a decent sixth OL, we can use a heavy set and bring an OL over to create a 3-surface side and use a WR to the backside as an OT.
- We will run ISV and OSV to the unbalanced side.
- If the defense reduces the front to the unbalanced side, we will run midline, ISV (if our OG and WR can handle the 3-tech), and jet
sweep back to the nub.

We do some different things versus 33 and 43 defenses but our general philosophy stays the same. Run formations that give us a numerical advantage in our option game. Great to be a member and I am looking forward to sharing ideas with all of you!

Coach Mac - This was our first year playing against the 33 defense. We played two teams this past year that ran it. We ran ISV, midline, counter iso, and lead belly successfully. The first team we played ran mostly cover 3 versus our double slot formation. With ISV, we started the game running double slot and scooped the nose with our OC and BSG, sent our PSG for the Mike LB, and zoned the frontside Bandit (stack LB) to the FS with our PST and PSA (slot). We had some difficulty getting our PST on the FS so we went unbalanced double slot and used the inside WR to block the FS. The read key was the playside 5-technique and the pitch key was the playside Spur (OSLB).

The second team we played ran mostly man-free versus our double slot. We stayed in double slot versus this team but had our WR's take only an 8 foot split. We were able to get a two-for-one by sending them to block the FS (CB in man coverage would chase WR inside).

Versus a slanting Nose or a good Nose that we are unable to scoop, would run midline, counter iso and lead belly away from the slant to get them to stop slanting. We would do this by using trace motion with our slots.

Versus a 4I or a 5 technique that is jamming our PST inside release, we will use a Solid scheme and block the DT with our PST. It becomes automatic double option and our FB replaces the PST and looks to seal levels (help slot with Bandit to FS). We will still pitch off the Stinger.

I would love to hear other ideas on how to attack the 33 defense.

Coach Mac, what are your coaching points for the PST when using the "Bump Wall" scheme when he locks onto the 5 technique (PSLB scrapes for QB)? Thanks for the ideas in advance.

MAC as you know it is known as 12 - 13 Bump. Coach CAmpbell

hang_50

We would take huge splits with our 2 WR's to get the CB and FS out of the picture. We then would continue to run ISV and midline to the UB side. To the UB side, you will only have four defenders in the box with no secondary support. We would also throw the seam pass to our front side slot off the ISV action. By manning-up on our UB WR with the FS, they are giving their OSLB to the UB side a dual responsibility. He must play pitch on option and also cover the slot on any pass routes. Have your 2 WR's stalk the manned-up CB and FS on any run plays and have the outside WR run a hitch and the inside WR a stay (cannot go downfield because he is covered) on the play action pass.

I hope this helps.

hang_50

I also have spent alot of time with the Naval Academy Staff the last three years and then before with them when they were at Georgia Southern. When we go into a game versus a 50 defense, much of our formation and offensive philosophy will hinge on the following three questions:

1. Are they a straight-up read 50 defense or are they a slanting-stunting-reduce the front 50 defense?
2. Will our OC and BSG be able to scoop their Nose or is he going to cause us some trouble?
3. Are our perimeter athletes (WR & slots) as good as their perimeter athletes (CB & Safeties)?

What type of 50 defense are you seeing?

Our formation philosophy versus a 43 is very similar to an 8 man front defense. The only difference is with some perimeter blocking schemes.

I really like the ideas from Coach Campbell and ta coach. To perhaps add a wrinkle, I would think of keeping the flexed TE at 6 yards from the tackle and go with a twins set to the same side of the field. You could play with a tackle over, leaving your TE to the weakside of the unbalanced formation, essentially giving you a solid punch on your strong side and the possiblity of midline/ISV to the weak side. To take it a step further, have you thought of having your flanker split the difference to give you a "nasty" set?