Triple option
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(October 2019) |
Thetriple optionis anAmerican footballplay used to offer six ways to move the football forward on the field of play. The triple option is based on theoption run,but uses three players who might run with the ball instead of the two used in a standard option run.
The triple option forces defenses to worry about multiple running options on a single play. For the offense, the decision of who is to carry the ball—which option to use—is made during the play by thequarterback(QB).[1]The QB makes the decision whether to give the ball to thefullback(FB) or, based on his read of the defense, to keep the ball. If the QB does choose to keep the ball after the initial snap, he still retains the option of employing a third option; handing the ball off to the tailback. If, for example, the defensive end (DE) is blocking the FB or for any other reason it appears to him that his group of ball-carriers are otherwise limited, he will simply keep the ball himself instead of handing it off. If the DE runs straight upfield or directly at the QB, then the QB gives the ball to the FB. The triple option can be complemented by fixed running plays which look like the triple option when they start, but use traditionalblocking,as well asplay-actionpassing.
There are three basic forms of triple option: thewishbonetriple option, theveertriple option, and theI formationtriple option. These differ in terms of the personnel on the field and their positioning prior to the start of the play.
Wishbone
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Wishbone_Formation.svg/300px-Wishbone_Formation.svg.png)
The wishbone triple option can use several formations including theflexboneorMaryland I.The wishbone triple option is a running play where either the fullback, the quarterback, or one of thehalfbacks(also called "running backs" [RB] or "tail backs" ) runs the ball.
First, the quarterback receives the football from the center. The quarterback then starts the play in one direction by appearing to hand the football to the fullback right behind the play side guard on a standard fullback dive play. The guard "chips" the 3-technique (defensive tackle) and blocks the play side (the side where the play is going) inside linebacker (usually called the "mike", or middle linebacker). The quarterback then reads the unblocked defensive lineman. If the lineman attacks the fullback, the quarterback pulls the ball from the fullback's gut and continues down the line, but if the defensive lineman goes outside to contain the play, he hands off inside to the fullback. The offensive tackle on the side of the play's direction does not block the defensive end and instead moves to block the first threat, usually the linebacker stacked behind the defensive end. In the traditional triple option the backside tailback will take a parallel course down the line of scrimmage keeping a three to five yard separation from the quarterback. If the defensive end comes inside toward the quarterback, he will pitch it outside to the trailing halfback. If the defensive end retains outside leverage and covers the trailing halfback closely, the quarterback will keep the ball and run upfield inside of the defensive end. The tailback to the play side is responsible for blocking one of the defensive backs, usually one of the deep safeties. The wide receiver (WR) to the play side is responsible for blocking the corner back assigned to cover them if the defense were playing man coverage.
If this is run properly it can be extremely effective as most all defensive players are accounted for by blockers. Once the quarterback or tailback gets beyond the line of scrimmage there should be nobody in front of him because the tackle, guard, tailback, and wide receiver are all downfield picking up the first threat.
The play is called the triple option as the fullback dive is the first option, the quarterback keeping the ball is the second option, and the quarterback pitching to the halfback is the third option.
A slight variation of this formation is the "flexbone", where the running backs move to just outside the tackles, but still behind the line of scrimmage. The running back that the play is using for the third option motions in, and while in motion the ball is snapped. The triple option, in this case, is still run mostly the same as the wishbone.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Triple_Option_veer.jpg/400px-Triple_Option_veer.jpg)
Veer
[edit]Theveertriple option uses two halfbacks and atight end(TE). The "inside veer" play is similar to the wishbone triple option, but the dive option is performed by the halfback on the side of the play, and the other halfback becomes the pitch man. The veer is more challenging to run to the weak side (the side without the tight end) because there is no lead blocker for the pitch man. The "outside veer" moves the halfback dive option outside the offensive tackle, forcing the outside linebacker to stop the halfback dive, and forcing the defensive backs to play the pitch option.
I formation
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/I_formation.svg/300px-I_formation.svg.png)
The triple option can be run out of the I formation as well. With two running backs, it is sometimes called the "I-veer", as the play is similar to the two running back veer offense. Three running back I formations such as the Maryland I and the stack I are more similar to the wishbone play.
Nebraska in 1980–2003 deployed an I formation triple option. They won 3 national titles with it in 1994, 1995, and 1997.
Recent variations
[edit]In recent years[when?],asspreadand zone read offenses have become popular, many teams have begun to run variations of the triple option with the quarterback in the shotgun. This has been greatly popularized by the success of coaches such asRich Rodriguez,Mark Helfrich,andUrban Meyer.The more traditional version of the triple option uses a quarterback under center and is advocated by theservice academycoaches, includingFisher DeBerry,formerly ofAir Force,andPaul Johnson,formerly head coach ofNavyandGeorgia Tech(who installed this offense atHawai'iandGeorgia Southern,the latter school winning several Division I Football Championship Subdivision titles using it).
Paul Johnson, along with his successor at. NavyKen Niumatalolo,have had the most success with the triple option/veer in the last few years. The triple option can be used in the spread offense. Teams likeOhio State,Oregon,andArizonahave used an inside zone triple option from the spread. The quarterback reads the defensive end for "give" or "keep". If the defensive end squeezes down to take the dive, the quarterback will pull the ball and take his reading progression to the outside linebacker or defensive back. If the linebacker/defensive back takes the quarterback, the quarterback will pitch the ball to his running back who is running in formation with the quarterback.
Run-pass option
[edit]This sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(November 2020) |
A 2009 NCAA rule change that allowed linemen to block three yards downfield on a pass (as opposed to one yard in the NFL) opened the college game to the run-pass option (RPO) plays. Much like in a traditional option attack, the quarterback "reads" the defense at the snap and quickly decides how to execute the play depending on the initial actions of one or two "key" defenders. In an RPO play, however, one or more receivers run a pass route, and the quarterback has the option to throw a pass. Because the offensive line (and usually some receivers) run block at the snap, any pass must be thrown very quickly, before blockers have pushed forward three yards. A properly executed RPO is difficult to defend, as a quarterback who correctly reads the defense will run the version of the play which has the best chance for success.[2][3]
The rule change that resulted in the widespread use of RPOs by college offenses was controversial. By "destroy[ing] the ages-old division between passing plays and running plays" the RPO changes offense, defense and officiating roles.The Wall Street Journalhighlighted the option in the lead-up to the2017 playoffbetween Alabama and Clemson, in which both teams "will [try to] use [it] to win".[4]
The RPO has also been utilized in the NFL despite rules disallowing linemen to block more than one yard downfield on passing plays, though NFL QBs must make quicker reads to avoid a penalty if they decide to throw a forward pass.[5]
References
[edit]- ^"Dissecting Navy's triple-option offense".The San Diego Union-Tribune.20 December 2014.Retrieved2015-08-14.
- ^Ruiz, Steven (6 September 2018)."A casual NFL fan's guide to RPOs".For The Win.USA Today.RetrievedNovember 16,2020.
- ^"Urban Meyer explains run-pass option".youtube.Big Ten Network. 31 August 2019.[dead YouTube link]
- ^Beaton, Andrew, and Ben Cohen,"The Most Dangerous Play in College Football" (subscription),Wall Street Journal,January 8, 2017. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
- ^Boyd, Ian (September 6, 2018)."How run/pass options (RPOs) work differently in college than in the NFL".SB Nation.RetrievedJanuary 11,2019.