Play of the Day Chalk Talk Volume 80 : Verticals from Empty
The Dropback Passing game gives the Triple Gun offensive system a true downfield threat without the need for Play Action. In Play of the Day Chalk Talk Volume 80, a 3x2 Empty formation is used to attack a 3 Shell with the Triple Gun's vertical pass game. As he dissects the play, Coach DeMeo emphasizes two coaching points by pointing out player mistakes - one with the protection, and another with the Quarterback's reading of the field. The play, however still results in a big gain.
Play of the Day Chalk Talk Volume 79 : Crossers Play Action Pass vs 3-4
In Play of the Day Chalk. #79, Coach DeMeo explains how to adapt a pattern to fit the Offense's field position. This Chalk Talk features game video showing the Triple Gun Crossers route against a 3-4 Defense that rolls to a 3 shell and illustrates a "short field" adjustment to the Quarterback's read progression. Also discussed and illustrated in this Chalk Talk is a protection adjustment to edge pressure.
Play of the Day Chalk Talk Volume 78 : Switch Route with Zone Read Play Action
Coach DeMeo returns to the digital chalkboard with another Play of the Day Chalk. In Volume 78, the play is a Switch Route off Zone Read Play Action - a "Run and Shoot" style Post/Wheel route. The Zone/Read Play Action freezes the Defense and frees up the post for a big play.
This week in College Football podcast series
Option Central Contributor and creator of the Triple Gun Offense, Tony DeMeo recently began publishing a new podcast series: This Week in College Football. Each week, Coach DeMeo "reviews and previews" a number of the top college footbal games in the country from a football coach's perspective.
When applicable, Coach DeMeo includes a discussion of whether “Meaningful Stats” influenced the results of the featured games. The weekly podcast is published and distributed by the CompuSports Radio Network, and the entire series is available at the CompuSports Media Exchange.
Option Central Web Site Redesign complete - Welcome !
With hundreds pages and links, our latest site redesign project proved to be a bigger undertaking than expected, particularly when compared to our last redesign, which was nearly 10 years ago. If you remember the old site, we think you will like the streamlined design as much as the more modern look and feel. For the benefit of Option Central Members, we took the opportunity to improve the organization and access points for our member resources.
We expect these changes will benefit the entire Option Central Community for many years to come. That being said, as much as we attempted to test, test and test again, inevitably there will be a bad link, typo or some other issue that we overlooked. We would appreciate feedback from both Members and Guests - especially if you encounter a problem or something we have overlooked.
Play of the Day Chalk Talk Volume 77 : Play Action Verts vs 4 Shell
In Play of the Day ChalkVolume 77, Coach DeMeo explains and illustrates another Play Action off the Zone Read - this time from a Trips formation vs a 4 Shell. Again the play action freezes a linebacker with the 4 Vertical concept and a quick play action fake creates a successful play - in this case a long gain.
Play of the Day Chalk Talk Volume 76 : Play Action Off Zone Read
In Play of the Day Chalk Volume 76, Coach DeMeo illustrates a Play Action pass off the Zone Read that features a 4 Vertical concept and a quick play action fake to get the play side linebacker reacting to the Zone Read, creating an advantage for primary receiver. Available now in our Member Video Library.
The play, shown against an 8 man front, 3 deep scheme includes a backfield shift and an explanation of how the play can be run as an RPO. Also included is a philosophical discussion of Play Action vs RPO's.
Video series from the 2019 National RPO Clinic continues
Brad Wilson, Univ. of Indianapolis Run Game Coordinator talked on a rumber of topics over 3 sessions at the 2019 National RPO Clinic. Using video exclusively and effectively to deliver his entire presentation, Coach Wilson starts with the basics of the Greyhound Run Game, progresses to the RPO game, and concludes with a detailed discussion of Pass Protection. In each session, Coach Wilson interacts with his audience in a way that makes it easy for the viewer to pick up the Q and A in this excellent "primer" for new coaches as well as a source of new ideas for seasoned veterans.
Spread Zone / Option Run Game Variations
In his first session, Coach Wilson discussed the Greyhounds' Run Game - from alignments (Line and Back), assignments, and blocking techniques to line calls along with his basic adjustments to Even and Odd fronts, Safety run support and edge Blitz pressure.
Coach Wilson explains the "core run plays" in his Offense - the Inside Zone and Outside Zone plays and the Zone/Read off it, along with Power, Counter, Pin/Pull and Pin/Duck. Watch and learn about IZZY - which he refers to as a Short Inside Zone but admits is really a "mid zone" play, OZZY, EXTRA - a split-flow variation and READ - the Zone/Read play, along with BOB and BLUFF - Zone/Read plays with a H back blocking variations. Available now in our Member Video Library.
RPO Variations in the Univ. of Indianapolis Spread Offense
In his second session, Coach Wilson discusses the basic RPO concepts in the Greyhound scheme. Focusing on Bubble variations from 2x2, 3x1 and Empty sets - both with and without the use of motion, Coach Wilson utilizes game video to explain the reason for blocking adjustments and to critique his Quarterback's decision-making.
Univ. of Indianapolis Pass Protection
In his final session Coach Wilson discusses Pass Protection in the Greyhound scheme. Starting with his base, 6 Man Slide Protection and progressing to 5 Man, Sprintout and Play Action protections, Coach Wilson explains and illustrates with game file not only the blocking scheme, but also the line calls, rules and blocking techniques. Protection vs Blitzes and Twists is included.
RPO's through the QB's eyes
"For every play in your playbook, does your Quarterback know what he is looking for to make a timely decision
?"
"Defensive
guys..are you confusing the Quarterback ? What are you doing to disrupt
the Offense's timing ?
"
In another video from the 2019 National RPO Clinic, Coach Calvin Renfroe, Passing Game Coordinator at Olivet Nazarene University (IL) talks about coaching Quarterbacks in an RPO-focused (70+% of plays), Spread Offense. The "Boom Town" offense has an RPO off of every base run play in the offense, and uses primarily 2 back sets and a lot of "motion to cause commotion".
Coach Renfroe
uses extensive game video to explain and illustrate the
pre-and post-snap reads that lead to timely and effective
QB decision making in this run-heavy type of Offense. His goal in this presentation
is to give the listener/viewer 3 things :
1) The ability to draw a play that can be used immediately
2) An idea or concept - a way to think about things, how to
address coaching .a mindset
3) A catch phrase to say something easier
Available now in our Member Video Library.
Preview Option Central resources by reading Option Central News - Spring Edition available now
In the Spring issue of our Option Central Newsletter, we continue our 20th Anniversary celebration with some great material, including:
- Dropback Stretch Pass vs 4-4 (Chalk
Talk video)
- Marrying the RPO with the Air Raid
(video)
- Defending the Spread RPO Attack (video)
- Training the Option Quarterback (Article)
- Perimeter Blocking in the Trap Option Offense (eBook Chapter)
The Option Central Newsletter is available to both Members and Guests. In each issue, we feature one or more articles, videos and other resources on Option Football as limited-time "previews".
Not receiving Option Central News yet? Sign up now !
Play of the Day Chalk Talk Volume 75 : Dropback Fade/Seam vs Press Man
In Play of the Day Chalk Volume 75, Coach DeMeo illustrates the Dropback Stretch Pass against a 3 Shell/Cover 1, Press Man scheme. In this play, both Slots are widened, creating space for the wide receiver running the fade.
A second video in this Chalk Talk illustrates the "strategic flexibility" that is built into the Triple Gun Offense as the Receivers and Quarterback make an automatic adjustment to a Blitz that makes it possible to get the ball to the uncovered receiver.
Play of the Day Chalk Talk Volume 74 : Dropback Stretch Pass vs 4 Shell
In Play of the Day Chalk 74, Coach DeMeo illustrates the Stretch Pass against a 4 Shell. In this play, we see how the threat of the Option game creates personnel matchups that create an advantage for the Offense - in this case, by "making a tackle guy cover" a Wide Receiver.
As we did in our previous Chalk Talk (see below), we use a pair of game videos, including one that illustrates how the addition of motion creates a Defensive adjustment to a 3 Shell look, opening up a different receiver in the pass concept as a result
Play of the Day Chalk Talk 74 is available now in our Member section in its entirety. Check out this preview...
"6 Down" Fronts for Defending against the Spread RPO
"We always 'harp' on 3rd Down, because if you can get off the field on 3rd Down, you can win a lot of football games."
In the last series of videos from his 3 speaking sessions at the 2019 National RPO Clinics, Rose-Hulman's Nick Davis explains his "6 Down" Fronts and the related movements and pressures that he uses to Defend against RPO offenses. Coach Davis begins with a discussion of the importance of "player buy-in" to the success of his schemem and how he uses "stats" to get it. Then, using Game Video, he takes us through his opponents plays that illustrate the Defensive calls, including their explosive plays, to emphasize coaching points. Available now in our Member Video Library.
Play of the Day Chalk Talk Volume 73 : Dropback Stretch Pass
Coach Tony DeMeo returns to Option Central's "digital chalkboard" with a new series of Play of the Day Chalk Talks that highlights one of the unique aspects of his Triple Gun Option Offense - its Drop Back Passing game. In our first Play of the Day Chalk Talk for 2019, we use a pair of game videos to illustrate two different reads off the Triple Gun's Stretch Pass concept against a 4-4 Cover 3 Defensive scheme.
Watch and Listen as Coach DeMeo talks and chalks
you through
the details of the play using Sideline and End Zone video
along with a detailed
chalkboard-style play illustration. Adjustments to
Press Man coverage and a discussion of the "big on big"
protection are also included. Available now in our Member
Video Library.
Fronts and Movements to Defend the Spread RPO Offense
In the second of 3 videos from his sessions at the 2019 National RPO Clinics, Rose-Hulman's Nick Davis explains the fronts, line stunts and blitzes that he uses against RPO offenses. Like he did the first session, Coach Davis highlights his opponents' "explosive" offensive plays - this time all runs along with positive plays for the Defense to illustrate the effectiveness of various Defensive calls and emphasizes coaching points.
Defending the Spread RPO Offense
Defenses have adapted to the Spread's variation of the Option in a number of ways. Rose-Hulman's Defensive Coordinator Nick Davis approaches this challenge with what he refers to as a "positionless" defensive scheme that uses multiple fronts, movements and pressures with primarily man coverage to create advantagous "matchups" for his Defense.
In the first of 3 videos from the National RPO Clinics, Coach Davis uses video of opponent "explosive plays" to introduce his scheme, approach to personnel, formation adjustments and "man coverage" concepts for defending against the RPO. Available now in our Member Video Library.
Marrying an RPO Attack with the Air Raid Offense
In our second series of videos from the 2019 National RPO Clinic, Coach Rich Hargitt explains his philosophy of attacking defenses, Quick Game concepts like Stick, Snag and Spot, and a number of other Pass Concepts including Mesh, Shallow, 4 Verts and Y Cross. Other topics in this 5 part video include Front and Back Door Reads, Locked and Unlocked RPOs and using Bunch and Compressed sets, Motion, Stack Alignments and Tight End formations . Available now in our Member Video Library. Over 2 hours of instruction.
In our first series of videos from the recent National RPO Clinic, Coach Rich Hargitt of Surface to Air System explains his GPS (Game Practice System) and The S2A Read Progression of Matchups, Leverage and Grass. Additional topics include The S2A Defense Identification System and The S2A System Nomenclature. Coach Hargitt concludes this 4 part video with a discussion of his approach to game planning and opponent film review.
New RPO section coming to Option Central
"When a guy gets a key, and two different plays look like the same play, if he’s right on one, he’s wrong on the other. A lot of those plays are run by the quarterback,
so both plays are in play and the quarterback makes a decision on what to do as he reads the defense. You can’t be right defensively, is the philosophy there.”
Bill Belichick
Neither a running play nor a passing play, the RPO has evolved from a type of play to an entire offense. While its true origin is debatable, there is no debate that a well-executed Run/Pass Option is difficult to defend in and of itself. Even more difficult is when it is part of a "system" that is based on a "stretch the field vertically and horizontally" philosophy.
A natural "fit" for Option Central, we're pleased to announce the latest addition to our Video Resource library - videos from The National RPO Clinics. We've begun posting the first of many videos that we will roll out as cutups in the coming months to our members that feature Surface to Air System Co-Founder Rich Hargitt, along with video presentations from a number of other coaches. These videos cover both Offensive and Defensive concepts, plays, strategies and more. Here's a sample ...
There is quite a bit here that will assist Defensive coaches to better understand the thinking behind today's innovative RPO schemes, like this "food for thought" statement from one of Coach Hargitt's clinic sessions in which he discussed dealing with blitzing man defenses...
The 20 Years of Option Central
This year marks a significant milestone for Option Central - our 20th Anniversary. That's right, the year was 1999 - a time when the internet was in it's infancy, when Mike Schuster launched what may be the only member - supported football coaching site still in existence today that traces it's origins to the "pre-Y2K" era.
You can read about The (first) 10 Years of Option Central here, and learn more by checking out a two-part interview in which Mike discussed Option Central with Staff Writer Jim Reese:
https://compusportsmedia.com/an-interview-with-option-central-founder-mike-schuster/
https://compusportsmedia.com/an-interview-with-option-central-founder-mike-schuster-part-ii/
You can also read about the evolution of Option Central during our most recent 10 years in The 20 Years of Option Central .
Introduction to the Triple Gun Course now available at CoachTube.com
Option Central Contributor Tony DeMeo has published a new course on CoachTube.com. Introduction to The Triple Gun Offense consists of a specially selected group of 17 plays presented in Option Central's Play of the Day Chalk Talk format, along with two clinic-style presentations on the Triple Gun Quick Game and Play Action Passing game.
Check out this preview that explains the course content in detail and contains sample video from each of the 5 play areas represented in the course: The Gun Triple, The Double Option, The Play Action Pass Game, The Quick Pass Game and The Triple Gun Screens and Reverses .
Click here to learn more about and sign up for the course..
Preview Option Central resources by reading Option Central News - New Edition available now
Option Central News is available to both Members and Guests. In each issue, we feature one or more articles, videos and other resources on Option Football as limited-time "previews".
Recent issues have included "freeviews" of The Screen Game Webinar recording, Triple Screen and Quarterback Iso Chalk Talk videos, an article on Maximizing Practice Time and eBook Chapters on Mixing Blocking Schemes in an Option attack and the 60 Read Series from the Trap Option 40 Plus 60 Equals Option. Not receiving Option Central News yet? Sign up now !