*Know Your Opponent: Flexbone Triple Option (Inside/Outside Veer)

Let's now look at the other triple options: the Veer.  "It's like nova cane.  Give it time, it always works," (Remember the Titans).  The idea is that the QB will read a DL to decide if he should give the ball to the FB, or pull it for himself.  If he pulls it, he then reads a second defender (usually a LB) to decide if he will keep it or pitch it to a wing back. 

Inside Veer: The inside veer read key is the first down DL past the Guard.  A rule of thumb is that option teams like to run veer to the 1-technique side of an even front.  For us, this means that the playside G and C will double team the N and try to widen the path for the FB.  Some teams have gone to a zone scheme on this block, scooping the N to a LB, but in either case we will treat that initial block as a double team.  Now, the QB will look to read the next man past the G (some teams will wash a 4i-technique).  For us, that's our Rip DE.  The OT will release inside by dipping his shoulder to avoid contact with the 5-technique DE - his job is to seal the frontside LB.  The QB then reads the action of the DE: if he closes on the FB the QB will pull the ball and attack the next defender outside.  If the DE sits, hesitates, or flies upfield, the QB will give the ball to the FB and the FB will attack the B-gap full speed.  Make no mistake, option teams want their FB running full speed ahead with the ball.  On the backside, the G and T will look to cut off any penetration to their playside gaps and then climb to the second level and pick off pursuing LB's. 


Outside Veer: Outside veer is run outside of the tackle box.  Most teams will only run outside veer with a TE in the game, but we have had teams run it out of the flexbone formation (see previous post about the flexbone formation) against us.  The OT and wingback/slotback or the OT and TE will double team the DE (5 tech vs flexbone, 7 tech vs TE).  The QB then reads the next defender past the DE for his give/pull read.  The FB attacks C gap, as opposed to B gap for inside veer.  The rest of the OL will seal their playside gaps and climb to the second level, sort of like an outside zone play.  If you want to see film of the outside veer, watch the game film from last year (2015) vs. Berkley.  They ran outside veer a few times in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. 

Triple option teams want to establish their FB.  If Midline isn't there, they go to Inside Veer, and if that's not there they go to Outside Veer.  That's their thing.  They complement their option stuff with trap, a counter option, and rocket toss (quick pitch), as well as some play action passing.  There's a lot of great video online of Navy and Georgia Tech running this offense.  We also have game films on Hudl from Berkley and Seaholm the past 2 seasons.  Watch, learn, and get better!  Next time we'll start to look at pro-style offenses.

*Know Your Opponent: Flexbone Triple Option (Midline & Trap)

Time to start a new series of posts.  Any post labeled with a "*" will be from the "Know Your Opponent" series where we will examine various offenses, and specifically look at what the OL will do or attempt to do.  It's important to have an understanding of what the offense wants to do, both in the big picture scheme and the localized OL/DL matchup.

This first post will examine parts of the flexbone triple option offense. We will spend a few posts discussing this offense, as it is quite complex and has several implementations.  We WILL face this offense at least twice this season, so it's a great place to start our series of "Know Your Opponent"!

First, there's a ton of stuff online if you do a Google search of "Flexbone Triple Option".  You can also search for playbooks from the service academies, as both Army and Navy run the offense (so does Georgia Tech, since Coach Johnson was formerly at Navy).  We will keep our discussion central to the implementation we will see at the high school level, specifically from the teams we will face on our schedule this year.

What is Flexbone?  Flexbone is a formation, like an "I-formation" or a "Spread" formation.  Flexbone aligns two split ends detached from the formation with two slot backs and a single fullback directly behind the QB (see below). 

What is "Option"?  Option means the QB has an option of who ultimately is the ball carrier on any given play, and he will make his decision AFTER the ball has been snapped by READING what the DEFENDER does.  Triple option means the QB has three options: give to FB, keep it, or pitch it to a slot back.  Double option means the QB has two options, usually give to FB or keep it, but also keep it or pitch it (like speed option).

The basis of the Flexbone Option offense is the Midline (usually a double option) and the Veer (triple option).  The Veer can be run inside or outside, which we'll discuss in a future post.

Midline: The offense wants to establish the FB up the A-gap!  The offense will double team the backside A-gap defender (such as our Nose) with the Center & backside Guard - their job is to get movement and WIDEN the frontside A gap so the FB has more room to work.  The playside Guard will release (usually inside) around the first defender past the Center (our 3-tech Tackle).  The OL will drill this release move EVERY DAY and the G will be quite good at turning his shoulders to the DL to avoid contact.  The QB will get his eyes on the DT immediately and watch what he does as the play develops (this is the READ).  If the DT closes the A-gap and tackles the FB, then the QB will keep the ball and get upfield through the B gap where the DT was pre-snap.  Often in the Flexbone the offense will lead through the B gap with the playside slot back, which is why some people refer to this play as QB Iso.  If the DT sits in the B gap or hesitates, the QB will let the FB keep the ball and the FB will run through the A gap with a full head of steam. The playside OT will look to kickout the DE and widen the B gap.  The backside OT will look to cut off B gap and hinge to C gap, protecting from backside pursuit.


These offenses will compliment the Midline play with a Trap on the DT.  The idea is that the DT will get used to seeing the FB get the ball so he will fly upfield to tackle the FB, leaving himself vulnerable to the backside pulling Guard. The C will block back on the N for the pulling G while both OT will look to release up to the LB level (alternatively, the playside OT will kickout the DE making the play appear just like Midline while the playside slot leads up on the LB).  This play is not an option, as it is pre-determined who is the ball carrier (the FB).  











As you can see, the basis of the inside run game for Flexbone Option teams is an attack on the A-B gaps and exploitation of the 3-technique DT.  Movement on the Nose by the use of double teams is also an emphasis, as these teams really want to widen the A gaps.  Many teams will use wide OL splits to help widen the A gaps, too. 

Next time we will examine the Flexbone Veer (inside & outside) plays and their complements.