JERSEY CALLS: A Jersey call is when the “dive key defender” (#1 in your count) is blocked by the play side OT. 

This may or may not be actually “called” by the O-Line prior to the snap.  At times, the O-Coordinator may signal in that he wants that dive key defender blocked by the OT in order to ensure a double option occurs instead of a triple option play.  The diagram above shows two instances when a jersey call is made.  These two jersey calls are made “on the run” while the final diagram shows no jersey call whatsoever.  “Jersey on the run” simply implies that prior to the snap of the ball, no official jersey call is made either in the huddle or at the LOS.  What happens instead, is as the play progresses, that dive key defender is indeed blocked by the play side OT. 

Diagram #1:   This is the “EZ Stunt; Jersey on the Run”.  An EZ stunt is when the defense attempts to confuse the QB by having the DE and OLB “switch” assignments”.  In this case, the LB slants inside to take the B-back while the DE keeps contain on the QB.  On many occasions, even though both these defenders are supposed to be unblocked (since the DE is our Dive Key while the OLB is the pitch key), if this stunt does occur, our Veer Releasing OT will in all likelihood, “run into” the OLB and therefore this play becomes a “jersey on the run” as the OLB is being blocked by our OT.  In this case, the OLB has now become our Dive Key (even though he is blocked) while the DE becomes our Pitch Key.  Our rule of thumb on any Jersey Call is as follows:  if the Dive Key defender is ever blocked by our OT, the QB will automatically “pull” the football from the gut of the B-back and instead, option the DE on a double option play.

Diagram #2:  There is no EZ Stunt happening here as the DE becomes our Dive Key defender while the OLB is our pitch key.  However, if that DE charges hard right into our Veer Releasing OT, this play becomes an automatic jersey call (since the Dive Key is being blocked).  The play once again becomes a double option to the perimeter.

Diagram #3:  This diagram shows what normally happens during our triple option play.  Prior to the snap, our QB has determined that his Dive Key is the DE while his Pitch Key is the OLB.  Our OT is able to Veer Release to get to the 2nd level Mike LB.  There is no Jersey Call on this play as the Dive Key has not been blocked by the OT.

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This play is a very important complimentary play for any triple option offense.  Once you realize that the defense is “keying” on your triple play, make those safeties “pay the price” for playing the triple run play by running the play-action pass play “triple pass”.  The QB must make this play “look” like a regular triple option play.  The QB flash fakes the mesh with the diving B-back and then takes two more steps laterally towards the sideline in order to sell the triple option play.  The QB then takes three steps backwards and then throws the ball to the play side Z-receiver.  He should be wide open since both the SS and the play side CB are playing RUN all the way!  Once you make the defense pay for their over zealousness, it is time to go back to your bread and butter play:  Triple Option!

When to use it?

Use Counter Option when your coaches realize that the backside LB(s) are making the tackle on your Triple Option play.  Make the defense pay for their over zealousness!

Complimentary Play Call: 18 (Rocket Toss)

When to Call it: The coach must call 18/19 when the inside linebackers are blitzing the inside gaps (A or B) on our base 12/13 triple option play.  What the defense is trying to do is create extreme pressure on the QB’s reading progression. By sending more players into the line of scrimmage, the defense is hoping to frustrate the QB into either making the wrong read, or simply panic to the extent of mishandling the ball.

Why use Rocket Toss? Rocket toss is called in this instance so that we can get the ball out on the perimeter “NOW”. There is no QB read or any extra bells or whistles during this play. It is simply the QB tossing the ball to the motioning A-back who then will look for daylight on the edge. Diagram 2 shows Rocket Toss in its entirety. Notice that the entire O-line not having to block a single D-lineman! How can this be? By having the motioning A-back already past the butt of the B-back at the snap of the ball, by the time the defense can even react to this play, the A-back will be receiving the pitch in the play side B-gap. Thus, this eliminates the need to block any D-lineman as they will have no time to react appropriately to this play. We now have one of our best athletes (A-back) running full speed to the periphery of the defense. We will have superior numbers at the point of attack along with eliminating eight potential tacklers without even having to block them (unless they are able to adjust to some extent).

Result of using Rocket Toss: after gauging the defense for big yardage using 18/19, they will back off to some extent and get back to playing a sound, basic defense. At this point, we would get back to our 12/13 triple base play.

(click on image to enlarge) 

This is a mandatory drill for all triple option teams.  The dive phase of the triple is the most important phase since if that vital QB/B-Back mesh and QB read cannot be mastered, then your triple option offense is DEAD! Execution:  For this particular drill, you will need a Center and a Tackle along with a B-back and a QB.  One pylon/ cone and at least two coaches are also needed.  The players line up in their regular alignments and on the QB’s cadence, the first phase of triple is run.  The Coach (C) that is taking the place of the D-Lineman is key to this drill.  It is up to him to give the different “looks” that a QB will get throughout a game.  On one rep, the Coach will be playing in a 4-tech, while the next rep he may be all the way into the C-gap.  In addition, this coach must throw everything but the kitchen sink at the QB when it comes to how the Coach attacks each repetition.  For instance, the first rep he may be in a 4-tech and squeeze to the inside and attack the B-back.  The next rep he may be in a 5-tech and burst up field.  The more repetitions the QB gets in this drill, the better he will become in making his reads both accurately and quickly. The B-back must stay on his 45 degree course EVERY TIME!  His job is to aim for the cone that represents the OG.  This drill works on both the QB/B-back mesh as well as QB reads.  This drill is indeed the bread and butter drill of the triple option.

The second Coach (C) who is located directly behind the B-back is looking for two things: the B-back’s course and how well the QB is making his reads.

This is an everyday drill and should be done as often as possible.

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

This play is great for gaining short yardage especially near the goal line. It places the ball in the hands of your best player….QB!  Why take chances handing that ball off with so many defenders in the box? 

The QB Follow play is executed by having the QB perform a very quick flash-mesh with the diving B-back.  The play starts out looking like a fullback dive.  However, after the quick fake to the B-back, the QB pulls the ball and “follows” his lead blocker (B-back) into the hole.  The B-back’s assignment is to block the second level inside backer.

Many triple coaches want to know what to run if the defense is covering both Guards?  The original play call in this case would be 12/13 (triple option).  However, as the offense moves towards the LOS, the QB becomes aware that he is facing a Bear defense.  He then simply audibles to 4/5 (Midline Triple).  In this way, we can still run one of our best option plays as we read both the 3 and 5 techs.  In the Diagram provided, #1 is the dive key; #2 is the pitch key; #3 is the responsibility of the play side A-back.  Remember, we never, as coaches, want a defense to dictate what we run.  However, we must be flexible to some extent and take what the defense is giving us.  In this case, with their 5 man front, we will not run regular triple option.  Instead, we counter their actions by making them pay by running our Midline Triple play.  Either way, we run TRIPLE!

ROCKET TOSS: (Click on Diagram to enlarge)

When the defense starts to blitz their inside LBs in order to create chaos in your triple option scheme, make them pay the price by using the Toss play. Rocket Toss is our toss play to the right side (Laser Toss is to the left). The blocking scheme is simple. The O-Line simply reach blocks. Any defender from the offensive Center to the backside is irrelevant and therefore is not blocked. This is due to this play being an extremely quick hitting play to the perimeter. The ball carrier will not even get the ball until he is in the B-gap to the play side! It is impossible for any of these “backside” defenders to have any effect on the play. Meanwhile, the play side A-back arcs out to the outside backer. The blocking theory behind this play is for everyone to seal their opponent to the inside. That will leave the ball carrier with a nice alley on the sideline.

Many defensive coordinators have lost many nights of sleep trying to come up with a defensive counter to the triple option game. Some have had varying degrees of success defending it while others were just plainly overwhelmed and became just another victim of this great offensive scheme. One of the more popular ways that defenses have been playing the triple is by sending a boatload of different defensive stunts and blitzes in an effort to both confuse and intimidate the option QB into making the wrong reads on predetermined defenders. Just like in a good chess game when both sides have their own counters to whatever their opponent might throw at them, so too do we at Mansfield University have our own ways to offset certain defensive tactics which we hope will, in the end, put our offense back on the right track. 

Blood Stunt

The Blood stunt or “Hot Stunt” occurs when the defense decides to test the nerves of your QB. What happens is both the dive and pitch key defenders attack the QB/B-back mesh point NOW (see Diagram)! There is no hesitation as these two defenders sell out in order to try and cause a fumble in the backfield. If your QB cannot handle this added pressure, it can be a very long day for your offense. Our counter to the Blood stunt is once again very simple: QB recognition of the stunt itself. Prior to the snap of the ball, we have our QB take notice on the exact location of both #1 and #2 (unblocked dive and pitch keys). If those two keys are side by side on the line of scrimmage, the QB now knows that a possible Blood stunt may be in the works. Remember that “knowledge is power” so if your QB is able to recognize the possibility of this stunt coming, he will be able to handle it. If, after the snap of the ball, a Blood stunt is not in the works, then the QB simply makes his reads like he normally would. If, on the other hand, this Hot Stunt is coming at him, the QB is simply taught to abort his mesh with the B-back prematurely and prepare to pitch that ball quickly to the orbiting pitch back (back side A-back). Make no mistake about it; the QB will have to decide extremely quick that this stunt is unfolding so it is imperative that he disengages the mesh with the B-back and quickly flicks the ball to the A-back. The upside for our offense if this stunt is indeed sent, is that if the QB successfully gets that all important pitch out to his pitch back, we have successfully eliminated two defenders from the play without even having to block them! As a result, the ball is now in the hands of one of your best athletes on the perimeter with a plethora of blockers.