Rebel Triple Option: By the Tascosa High School Offensive Staff

BY JOSH RITCHEY & TASCOSA OFFENSIVE STAFF (DEREK GALT [ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SLOTS], DALE DAVIS [Q/B], MAX FRICK [OL], CHRISTIAN CAFLISCH [WR], KING DOERUE [ASSISTANT SLOTS], MOISES SANDOVAL [OL])

Tascosa High School has run the FlexBone offense for 12 years. Before the FlexBone, we were a Prostyle offense running Power, Inside Zone, and Mid Zone, with a Drop Back game. We moved to the FlexBone because we were in the “Little Southwest Conference” District with Permian, Odessa High, Midland Legacy, Midland High, and San Angelo Central. We always have had skill kids that could compete, but at the time we did not have Offensive Linemen that could consistently block the Defensive Linemen in this district. In the past 10 years in this offense, Tascosa has had 17 play-off wins, with 3 District Championships, 9 Bi-District Championships, 5 Area Championships, 2 Regional Championships, and 1 Quarter-Final Championship. In 12 years of running the FlexBone offense, we have had 48,045 yards rushing and 565 rushing touchdowns. In 145 games played in the FlexBone offense, we average 331.3 yards rushing per game. Our version of the FlexBone offense is blend of influences of various collegiate and high school programs from all over the nation. We have taken techniques, schemes, and plays from each of these coaches to create the Rebel FlexBone.

In this article, we will focus on our Triple Option Play. This is the first play that is installed every year, and the play that we “hang our hat on”. Although there are many fronts that this play has to adjust to we will discuss the play verses a 6-1 defense which is the front we install the play first. Before we start, it is a must that we discuss the hierarchy of calling a play based on how a defense is trying to defend the Triple Option. We have base rules for the Triple Option that we can run out of multiple formations; however, we also have “Tags” that we can incorporate based on how the defense is fitting the three attacks in the Triple Option. These Tags only change up to three players base rules. Therefore, during the course of the game, we follow these four standards in attacking the defense (based on Wheaton’s way of calling the Triple):

• Rule

• Formation

• Tags

• Combination of the three

If we are having success running the Triple Option with our base rules, we will continue to call Triple Option. However, if a team is creating problems for our Triple Option, we will then start to look at different formations to try and gain an advantage by the defense adjustment. Generally speaking, when we get in another formation most defenses will keep the box the same but adjust their secondary. If we cannot find an advantage in our variant formations, then we will move to Tags. As previously stated, a Tag will only affect up to a max of three players. Everyone else will keep their base rule the same if the Tag does not talk to them. Finally, we will use a combination of the three to attack the defense. That means we may use a variant formation with base rules or with a Tag.

When discussing the Triple Option, it is important to understand that this is similar to 3 on 2 in basketball. The quarterback has two reads, which will dictate to him which of the three players will be the ball carrier. His reads are first down lineman “B Gap” outside for the dive or #1 and the next man out for the pitch read or #2. The third person would be the playside safety.

Here are the rules for each position, as well as the technique that they use to execute their rule:

• PST:

► Rule: block playside inside linebacker (PSILB)

► Technique: Veer (six-inch pigeon step with inside foot, hand trade outside hand while second step on the toes of the defender while eyes on PSILB then run “Y” if no threat)

• PSG:

► Rule: Base the DT

► Technique: step with near shade foot and base the DT

• C:

► Rule: Base to second level

► Technique: step with playside foot, shaving off the DT, and climb to second level

• BSG:

► Rule: Scoop

► Technique: Power Veer (six-inch step with inside foot while second step is on the toes of the defender leading with the top of your shoulder working low to high to the defenders inside shoulder)

• BST:

► Rule: Scoop

► Technique: flat first step, second step crossover, keep shoulders square as possible, third step is vertical, aiming point is the inside thigh board of the DL inside

• PS Slot:

► Rule: Block Bandit (Bandit = the CB, OLB, or Safety)

► Technique: push off inside foot, rolling the knee, the outside foot takes a 60-degree angle, run through the defender five yards from your alignment

• BS Slot:

► Rule: Pitch man

► Technique: leave on the “R” of “Ready”, roll your outside knee, pushing off your outside foot, aiming at the hand of the B Back, after the third step your angle changes to the feet of the B Back.

* You should be behind the mesh making a line with the Q and the B, attack the 10-yard target and turn up when the Q turns up

• PS WR:

► Rule: Block deep defender

► Technique: come off ball and square the corner if the defense is forcing with the safety, when your 4-5 yards away break down and buzz feet. Fast feet without crossing your feet, keeping a good base for collision. At contact punch with both arms and explode through the hips.

* If the defense is forcing with the CB, then take an angle to the Safety and stalk the safety using the same technique.

• BS WR:

► Rule: Block BS Safety to BS CB

► Technique: release flat and take an angle to cut the backside safety off gaining position and stalk using the same technique as the PS WR.

* If the backside safety is playing hard over the top and you cannot gain position, turn back to the BSCB and stalk

• B:

► Rule: Mesh with the Q

► Technique: heels at five yards from the ball with weight on hand. six-inch step at inside leg of PSG, mesh with the Q on your third step with inside foot back, take your belly button to the ball,

* eyes on the “Read Key” for “A Gap” or “B Gap” cut

* On the second level “Feel Key”, react to the defense’s movement

* Always get positive yards with six points of contact on ball in a crowd

• Q:

► Rule: know who #1 and #2 is

► Technique: push off backside foot, force the foot to pivot and playside leg to move into the mesh zone, step backside foot to “Find Balance” with toe to instep stagger

* Ball should be extended and deeper than playside foot before feet come set, eyes glued to #1 shoulders, decide pull or give based on #1’s actions

* If pull, pull violently to leave no question with B, press off front foot to gain depth with back foot, crossover step, drive down hill while switching eyes to #2’s inside shoulder, decide pitch or run

* If pitch ball should be positioned between chin and nipples, if #2 attacks quickly “Sit and Pitch”, if #2 is slow drive at his inside shoulder to make him react. He is always wrong, be decisive on your reads.

This play is meant to put pressure on the defense and make them be disciplined for an entire game. The other advantage that we have is that we practice this play everyday throughout the season and spring practices, while defenses have one week to implement their fits. We feel that this gives us an advantage against the defenses that we face. Also, by changing formations or tags, we can manipulate defenses and how they choose to “fit” our potential three ball carriers. We also can use Tags to change who our reads are which creates added pressure for the defense. The philosophy is that the defense cannot be right; and if we execute, then we will be successful.

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