Over the years football coaches have always tried to find ways to get an advantage on their opponents. Coaches have spent countless hours with a pencil and paper creating the next great play, formation, or offensive or defensive schemes to win the next football game.

 

There was a time in this great game of football everyone want to be the next great wishbone team. At one time the wishbone offense was thought of as one of the most innovated offenses in its time. The wishbone goes back to the 1950’s. Although a ton of credit goes to the Texas Longhorns who some would argue made the wishbone famous in the 1960’s.

 

But the most important piece of football gained during the wishbone era was the art of deception or better known as the “Option Attack!” It all started when Emory Bellard decided it didn’t make a lot of since to block all 11 guys on defense. So he develops a scheme that one man at the attack point would have to make a decision instead of blocking him. The key to the option of course is always having more than one person with the ability to getting the football.

 

In the 1970’s and through most of the 1980’s most everyone still lined up and ran the triple option. Most notable where the great Oklahoma and Nebraska teams in the 1980’s, although Nebraska moved to an I-formation the triple option concepts are the same. We have seen offenses formations change throughout the years. From the wishbone to the wing-T, Power I, split backs, to standard I formation.

 

This biggest problem most coaches had with running the option attack offense as it sole style of play is that it was hard to play from behind. The offense often took several minutes to score. So a lot of coaches have gotten away from the option attack. Well at least that is what they have made themselves believe. I assume they are concerned about not being cool or thought of as being label as outdated.

 

So changes are still occurring on dry erase boards in the basements, offices, and hotel rooms across the nation. Most teams today line up in a shotgun spread formation. Guess what they are still playing option football. Because coaches have to be politically correct today they just call their option plays “zone read”. Concept is still based on reacting to the decision of a defensive player that has been left unblocked.

 

Now I will agree coaches are smart and the option games in the spread offense have become more creative. With more of run/pass option plays. Thanks to coaches like Urban Myer, Chip Kelly, and Rich Rodriquez we have seen option football across college football dressed up in some fast sparkling new car. With Chip Kelly moving to the NFL and players like RGIII we are getting option football in the NFL.

 

How many of our high school teams are still running a true option attack? What are you memories, likes or dislikes of the option attack?

I loved the ol' Bone alighnment. SMU Pony Express while not a wishbone did run the option with precision, Dickerson and James get most of the credit but QB Lance McIlhenny was pretty tough as well.

Awesome thread & I love the statement about coaches having to be politically correct and calling it "Zone Read" these days, but it's still option football.

 

That reminds me of a couple years ago when I heard Gus Malzahn (current Auburn HC and Auburn OC when Cam Newton was the QB) speak to about 500 coaches on his offense. He talked about how he had to call it the "Spread", but all he runs is the Wing T from the Shotgun (which is true). He made a comment, "But I couldnt go in as the OC at Auburn and tell our fan base we are running the Wing T! Are you kidding me? At the first sight of struggle they would have ran me out of town."

 

He went onto say something (which is so true, and yet so funny) about, "It's amazing...you line up a QB in the shotgun instead of under center, throw in some smoke and mirrors (formations) and everybody thinks you are running some wild new offense."

I say change the 7 men on the line of scrimmage to 6 or even 5...then you'd get some imagination. Go from Triple Option to Quad Option or more!

 

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Great article CoachBuckett. I played in the wishbone offense and it was an offense that was hard to stop when ran properly. We always had fast linemen.

 

One wishbone attack that I have to admit was probably one the most potent I have seen was, Ashland in 1990, when they won the 4A State Championship. They had two very large backs that were punishing, one very fast, change of pace back, and a fast, smart, nerves of steel QB that would wait unit the last minute to pitch. That along with a very good OL made for a championship year for the Tomcats.

Great article CoachBuckett. I played in the wishbone offense and it was an offense that was hard to stop when ran properly. We always had fast linemen.

 

One wishbone attack that I have to admit was probably one the most potent I have seen was, Ashland in 1990, when they won the 4A State Championship. They had two very large backs that were punishing, one very fast, change of pace back, and a fast, smart, nerves of steel QB that would wait unit the last minute to pitch. That along with a very good OL made for a championship year for the Tomcats.

 

In the bone you have to have a tough QB because if on film you see that he doesn't like to take the hit then all you have to do is watch the pitch man. When you are on defense playing against the bone you have to play YOUR man and nobody else or you will be beat every time.

 

I played against the Notre Dame box twice in high school and it was hard as hell to defend. There were times I didn't have a clue who had the ball. It was a direct snap to one of the four RBs in the backfield. The best way to beat it was get a lot of up field pressure because they liked to hand the ball off two or three times in the back field. We won both games 14-13. The opposing team only had 22 players on it but they were tough as nails and very fast.

The option is one reason I love to watch the service academies play. They typically are undersized, not the fastest athletes on the field and don't live their lives for football. But, man, do they excel at the option!

Awesome thread & I love the statement about coaches having to be politically correct and calling it "Zone Read" these days, but it's still option football.

 

He went onto say something (which is so true, and yet so funny) about, "It's amazing...you line up a QB in the shotgun instead of under center, throw in some smoke and mirrors (formations) and everybody thinks you are running some wild new offense."

 

As for the bolded....Exactly. I agree with all of your post, just quoted the points that really explained it all. Doesn't matter how you line up, the so called "new and innovative" spread, spread option, zone read and other kool aid terms are all based on the wishbone / other option offenses of the past.

Doesn't matter how you line up, what you call it there is one constant of any offense....if it is not executed, it doesn't work...period. "It's not the x's and o's, it's the Jimmy's and Joe's" that make it work.

I am pretty sure that Homer Rice, former Highlands HC, started the triple option in football in the 1950's.

 

Old thread link....http://bluegrasspreps.com/ky-football-high/homer-rice-triple-214693.html

I love Option Football! I love watching the Academies; I live watching Oregon; I love learning about Ferris St. It is creative and innovative when done well.

While I agree the Bone and other option based offenses are still in use in various ways there is a huge point that is being overlooked here. Passing dominates football today. Yes - you have to run it effectively but without a passing attack that is potent teams simply load the box and clog you up. Sure, if you are athletically superior you can 3 yards and a cloud of dust your way to yardage. But too many teams in KY still live and die by the run and only use the pass as the "surprise" or "bomb". Pass completion rates in great programs have increased as teams have realized getting the ball "in space" is the key to consistent drives. Option football will always work but it will never win championships vs teams who can pass and run effectively. And if I had to choose one - I'd take that passing attack all day.

 

That is how you score early and often.

While I agree the Bone and other option based offenses are still in use in various ways there is a huge point that is being overlooked here. Passing dominates football today. Yes - you have to run it effectively but without a passing attack that is potent teams simply load the box and clog you up. Sure, if you are athletically superior you can 3 yards and a cloud of dust your way to yardage. But too many teams in KY still live and die by the run and only use the pass as the "surprise" or "bomb". Pass completion rates in great programs have increased as teams have realized getting the ball "in space" is the key to consistent drives. Option football will always work but it will never win championships vs teams who can pass and run effectively. And if I had to choose one - I'd take that passing attack all day.

 

That is how you score early and often.

I look at it completely opposite of what you said. I feel that passing is the preferred offense at every level, but you have to have an effective run game to win. I know it's the NFL, but the Patriots, during their dominance, were the most effective run offense in the NFL. Everyone in the NFL can, and does, pass, but the great teams have a great running game.

 

I think High School is the same. Most teams, at least the good teams, pass the ball, but they win by running the ball.

Great article CoachBuckett. I played in the wishbone offense and it was an offense that was hard to stop when ran properly. We always had fast linemen.

 

One wishbone attack that I have to admit was probably one the most potent I have seen was, Ashland in 1990, when they won the 4A State Championship. They had two very large backs that were punishing, one very fast, change of pace back, and a fast, smart, nerves of steel QB that would wait unit the last minute to pitch. That along with a very good OL made for a championship year for the Tomcats.

 

They were very potent but it was the 3A Championship they won, against Lincoln County. :(

I look at it completely opposite of what you said. I feel that passing is the preferred offense at every level, but you have to have an effective run game to win. I know it's the NFL, but the Patriots, during their dominance, were the most effective run offense in the NFL. Everyone in the NFL can, and does, pass, but the great teams have a great running game.

 

I think High School is the same. Most teams, at least the good teams, pass the ball, but they win by running the ball.

 

Agreed.

 

Ill also disagree about the "if you are athletically superior, the 3 yards and a cloud of dust" might win you games. If you are athletically superior, you can win doing a multitude of schemes (outside of maybe throwing the ball up and catching it yourself). I look at it the other way. Teams that our outmanned physically and athletically give themselves a chance by doing this; just look at the service academies.

 

If I'm a high school head football coach with very little to work with, I'm 3 yarding it all day long or at least trying to. Let the clock be your friend. It's amazing what doing little things like lining up with discaplined splits and technique can do for gaining 3 yards a chunk..

 

I know some people who say, well 58-6 or 28-6, what's the difference...you still got beat. True. But I've been on both ends of those scores vs far superior teams, as a player and coach, and I dont know anybody (or the team) in their right mind that doesn't feel better pyschologically after a 22 point defeat compared to a 50+ defeat. One is the lesser of two evils I guess is the way to support it.

 

With that said, I love watching people chuck it around, too.

I use Russell as an example to support Harry's point. This year, they are far from "athletically superior". Not putting them down, just stating a fact. Their line is not anywhere close to dominate or big, their three backs are not anywhere close to the fastest players on the field. But, They played Ashland, a far superior athletic team, to a one point game. How does that happen? It happened by limiting Ashland's offensive plays, thusly limiting Ashland's opportunities to score and by wearing down the defense. likewise, Russell historically plays Ironton Ohio better then many other teams, at least it looks like it on paper because the score is close. The same rational is true for Russell/Ironton as it is for Russell/Ashland.

 

Not superior, but getting an opportunity to win at the end. Ground and Pound has some equalizing principals.