In example number 1 below, you see the load option being run at a five and nine combination or a 13 tight defensive front. This defense is a good situation for 18 or 19 Load option because of the trey combination between the tackle and tight end. By being able to block down with the tackle and tight end you can restrict the flow of the linebackers and the play will never stretch thus, giving you more grass to run on outside.
Diamond Mechanics for Load, Lead, and Speed Options
The Load, Lead, and Speed options are double options designed to take advantage of defenses reducing their fronts in order to defend the inside running game, goal line and short yardage situations. The 18 – 19 series options are double options between the quarterback and pitchman, with 18 and 19 options it will either be a keep by the quarterback or a pitch to a running back. 18 – 19 Options are designed to put immediate pressure on the perimeter of the defense. The double option schemes provides an outstanding running situation for slowing down blitz situations. Outside option plays makes the defense have to defend both the quarterback and pitch in option situations,
this forces defenses from attacking you with whole sell blitz’s. The 18 – 19 series options
complements the midline and inside veer schemes when defenses start to reduce in order to defend these two options. Whenever a defense reduces it starts to remove players from the perimeter thus, setting up the 18 – 19 option schemes.
As the load option is taught to our players they learn that whenever the load scheme is used it tells the offensive linemen to fast zone their blocking schemes, this means to bring their hips and feet around fast to compensate for fast flowing linebackers scraping to the play. The following information will give you the needed information for our quarterback mechanics.
Our quarterback upon receiving the snap from center will step with his backside foot at a 45 degree angle, which sets up his pitch relationship for a possible quick pitch with his pitch back. The quarterback’s second step is with his playside foot stepping back at a 45 degree angle until both feet are underneath the quarterback once again. The third step by the quarterback is with his inside foot, stepping downhill at the read defender or nine technique. As with the other options mentioned previously the quarterback must stay downhill with his path. Quarterback on his third step should flash the football back as if to hand the ball off to hold the linebackers inside, this helps to set the combination blocks up and helps the trey and or duece combos to wall the playside linebacker off.
Once the quarterback flashes the football on his third and fourth step he then should get the ball to his third hand. When running a double option with your quarterback get him downhill running at the inside jersey number of the nine technique. If the quarterback gets a pitch read he should do so by screwing his thumb to the ground. What is meant by screwing your thumb to the ground, is when the quarterback pitches the ball his thumb should not follow the pitch towards the pitchman, this drifts the quarterback towards the pitchman thus, allowing the pitch defender to play both the
quarterback and the pitchman. The thumb should stay pointed down at the ground which keeps the quarterback from drifting towards the pitchman. When screwing the thumb to the ground technique is incorporated into you quarterback mechanics it will keep the pitch defender from slow playing the double option.
By stepping the quarterback off the line of scrimmage at a 45 degree angle with the backside foot will help in getting your pitchman in a faster pitch relationship with his quarterback. When running load or speed option into the openside the perimeter has been shorten thus, giving the pitch defender a shorter line to the quarterback if he decides to take the quarterback as his option responsibility.
Diamond Mechanics for Load, Lead, and Speed Options
Diamond Mechanics for Load, Lead, and Speed Options
About the Author of this post:
Jerry Campbell has over 30 years of high school and college coaching experience. He has experience as a head coach, offensive coordinator, and various position coaches. He has written numerous football coaching articles in various publications, is the author of over 30 books on coaching football, and has produced 12 coaching video series. Additionally, he is a nationally sought after speaker on the coaching clinic circuit.