Triple Option for All Levels: Simplifying Blocking Schemes from Varsity to Youth

by Jack Byrne
Head Football Coach
Windham High School (NH)

This article was submitted by Coach Jack Byrne, Head Football Coach at Windham H.S. in New Hampshire. Coach Byrne explains his simplified offensive blocking scheme, the rationale behind its design, how it is implemented across position groups and its strategic role in his football program.

When teaching option football (or any offensive football for that matter), the guys up front are almost always the ones who get the most criticism (“Block Somebody!”) but also get the least amount of detailed coaching.  The issues within the offensive line are the ones that, if improved, can have the biggest ripple effect on the quality of play and level of positive experience at the youth level.

Beyond just scoring more points and teaching good football, it’s important to remember the bigger picture.  How we coach our team and how we treat our players can make a lifelong impact, positive or negative.  These are KIDS, not mini NFL players.  Just because they have more height or body fat doesn’t mean they also have the killer instinct of an NFL offensive linemen.  In fact, we all know it’s likely the opposite…these kids, labeled as “linemen”, are often the least confident and least talented players we have.  They NEED us!!!

The worst-case scenario is all too common…we focus on the fast, outgoing, confident kids.   This can be an easy mistake…those talented kids score the points…they make us look good!  Meanwhile, the kids on the OL are often given poor and/or no training and are separated from the pack.  The rich get richer…The backs go do the “fun stuff”, and are never expected to understand what the OL is doing. Furthermore, many coaches allow the “good” players to criticize their O Line in times when one of the following may be true…

  1. They (the back and/or coaches) don’t understand the blocking scheme
  2. They (the backs) aren’t as talented as they think
  3. They (the backs) have a kid sitting on the sidelines who could probably step in at an OL position and improve the team, but they are “above that”.  

Obstacles in the Blocking Game

Problem #1…Assignments and Technique…

Regardless of how much we teach, there will always be assignment and technique errors at the high school and youth level. The key is to minimize these mistakes and develop a system that is powerful, effective and sound, but also simple enough to rep over and over and over to mazimize practice and limit mistakes.

Problem #2…Coaching Inexperience (the “Hit Somebody” problem)...

We have a few experienced OL coaches at the varsity level. However, we recognize that eventually, in most programs like ours, the experience runs out and the younger players may be working with well-intentioned, less-experienced coaches. We wanted to create a system that any coach can learn quickly in order to boost their confidence as a coach while giving our kids meaningful reps.

Problem #3…Getting the “Best 11” on the field…

“Best 11” is a common term thrown around in football. The defensive side of the ball allows for an easier adjustment to get “speed on the field” or “Best 11 on the field”. Offense has historically been a little more difficult to do so. However, many programs are running option because they are already smaller and/or in the underdog role anyway. So, why not double down and teach OL positions to all athletes? This way, we can ensure that starters can learn multiple positions, and non-classic OL (backs, defensive players) can be serviceable players on the line if needed. We believe that a team where ALL players understand and practice blocking is a team that can get to the next level.

Our Solution…Keep it SIMPLE

We combat these challenges (assignment mistakes, coaching inexperience, and getting talent on the field) with two key steps…we only use TWO blocking schemes, and ALL players practice these schemes every day.

Our two blocking schemes are known as “Full Slide” and “Half Slide”. While most teams use these terms for pass protection, we use it for our full playbook. Full Left may be called “Florida” and Full Right called “Fresno”. Half Left could be “Hollywood” and Half Right could be “Harvard”. Whatever terminology works for your team is good, but remembering these simple calls is a heck of a lot easier than memorizing a full playbook of rules.

Why? First off, it is very easy for kids to remember only two schemes. Our offensive line gets a tremendous amount of reps mastering the same few rules, which can give us an advantage over teams who have to memorize a whole playbook of plays. Furthermore, because we can practice these techniques with everyone, a brand new kid can step into the OL rotation quite easily. On Varsity, this helps us get the next best football player on the field (which could be a 2nd string TE, FB, DL, LB, etc.). In JV and Freshmen games, this helps us use our entire bench to get everyone a chance to develop. And at the youth level, we can get an appreciation and understanding of the offensive line by giving OL reps to QBs, RBs, and WRs.

Second, it is easy to drill. A simple five line on air drill can be supervised by almost any coach. Pre-practice becomes more effective, as leaders can organize blocking scheme drills on air and get everyone reps. Indy, group, and team continues to build on the same basic foundation. Whatever the offense loses in complexity, pulling linemen, and deeply specific rules, it gains in the reassurance that anyone stepping on the field has performed this skill hundreds or even thousands of times.

Blocking Scheme #1: Full Slide
Used in Triple, Option/Handoff Run Game, and Quick Pass Game

image2large

Because it is used in our base play, Triple, “Full Slide” is the first scheme we teach.

For Triple, the Full Slide is called AWAY from the playside, due to the fact that we are avoiding #1 (the handoff key…first man outside the B gap, usually a DE) and #2 (the pitch key…first man outside to overtop of #1, usually an OLB).

For most of our remaining run game, as well as our quick passing game, we use the Full Slide TO the play side. An example would be zone dive, jet sweep, or quick hitch from Tony Demeo’s Triple Gun Offense.

Rules of Full Slide

  1. EYES are most important body part…your eyes snap to your gap
  2. Keep shoulders square, look to create a cavity in the defense
  3. Man in my gap=Two hand block, stomp and drive with eyes on man
  4. Empty gap=Eyes to your gap, use peripheral vision and non-gap hand to help on double team (we call it a “one arm bench, eyes away”)
  5. During double team, launch to your gap if it becomes occupied

 

Other Examples of Full Slide Blocking…

 

 

 

Blocking Scheme #2: Half Slide
Used in Play Action, Iso Run Game, Screens/Draws, and Midline

Half Slide blocking is our attempt to bring everything back to Triple, our base play. This blocking scheme requires our players to identify “#1”, which is the first man outside the B gap. This man is our handoff key on Triple, so in order to master Triple even more, we are constantly identifying where #1/#2/#3 are and basing rules off what we do to those players on each particular play. If we practice identifying #1 on every play, we would hope that we can avoid and read him correctly on the many times we run Triple!

Rules of Half Slide

  1. Block OUT on #1 (based on Tackle’s “Me/You” call…who has best angle?)
  2. If Tackle blocks out on #1, Guard’s rule is “On to Gap Away”...he usually blocks the next down linemen, such as a 3 tech, a 1 tech, or a Nose.  
  3. If Guard blocks out on #1, the Tackle’s rule is “Gap Outside”...good vs a 4i and an edge rusher
  4. Center, Backside G and Backside T all use “Gap Away” rules (same as Full Slide away)


Play Action Passing…the #1 Reason for Half Slide Blocking!!!
Allows for dive back to fill and block while protecting the edge and the pocket

Other Examples of Half Slide Blocking…

Where to Start…All Players Block on Air

Even if these particular schemes aren’t your exact rules, the overall concept of teaching simplified, universal rules from varsity to youth may be worth it. As an option team, it’s hard to expect the young guys to be great at option, but the quality reps at practice can start pretty early if done right. We want to teach them how to practice the option and other base plays while developing a culture that puts a premium on lineman play, unselfish football, and a positive experience for all players.

The simple drill below may be all you need to help with the culture part. QBs, Backs, and WRs may need a bit of a reminder that we are all football players, and we are not defined by one position. No one is bigger than the TEAM!!! Get everyone involved in understanding and executing your playbook as an offensive lineman, and keep it simple enough so anyone can jump in and learn quickly.

Conclusion

The way we teach blocking now is one of the best things to happen to me as a head coach. As a “David” and not a “Goliath”, we needed to get every edge possible to compete against our schedule. Giving attention to our JV, Freshmen, and Youth programs and helping them with their biggest needs (usually offensive line!) builds us into a big family that is willing to work hard for each other. The investment will be worth it in the long run!

It gets me fired up to have all coaches from varsity to elementary school on the same page. Players feel it too, and they have taken ownership in teaching our blocking schemes to younger players and non linemen.

We believe the benefits to this approach are endless. Especially at the youth level, rapport between Backs and OL can make or break a team and even cut down on bullying and teasing. When Quarterbacks do the Blue Collar work, team respect for QB toughness increases, and can turn those QBs into leaders. Performing blocks leads to a better understanding of how to use blocks and execute as a ballcarrier. And the quality of competition at the five OL spots can increase exponentially due to simplicity, interchangeable positions, and more athletic backs being in the OL depth chart. Finally, we can continue building confident, competent OL coaches at all levels.


Coach Byrne has provided his personal contact information to coaches who have questions or would like to contact him about this article.

Coach Jack Byrne
Twitter/X: @CoachByrneWHS
Email: CoachByrne1@gmail.com