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Topic: Who Ran the Option?

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bayareabadger

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #28 on: July 15, 2019, 10:32:00 PM »
Quote from: Brutus Buckeye on July 15, 2019, 08:13:50 PM
I don't know if they ran the option, but when OSU featured Archie Griffin at Tailback, Corny Green at QB, and Pete Johnson at FB, all three put up pretty good rushing numbers while very little passing was going on.
Pulled up some film, spotted a good bit of option.

Then found Michigan running some spots of option.

At points, everyone ran the damn options
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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #29 on: July 15, 2019, 11:53:52 PM »
Right, so I guess I'd want to identify the teams that ran it maybe 80% of the time or more.  It wouldn't have to be extreme cases like Army or GT, where they don't throw a pass for an entire game, but more like the mid-90s Nebraska teams.  Sure, sometimes they ran a toss sweep.  A rare dropback pass.  But they ran option, plenty of QB keepers, and many passes came off the initial option look.



If it's just the list I posted initially, I'm fine with that.  I just don't want to miss any egregious teams.  All of this came from Yeoman at Houston, so did his strong late-70s teams run majority option?


I know about the service academies, but the only time they've mattered in the past 45 years was Air Force in '83 or '84, I forget.
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Hawkinole

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #30 on: July 16, 2019, 12:28:10 AM »
We ran the option when I was in high school. We ran the Houston Veer. University of Houston ran it. We ran this offense in 1974. The offense had two running backs in T-Formation and we usually had a slotback. (I played defense).

And the idea of the veer, was that if you took the hand-off off-guard the running back was to veer to the outside where there theoretically should be running room. And since we were conference champions, and had some good linemen, there usually was running room outside, but the coaches kept hollering to one running back, "Veer Olson! Veer!"

One of our running backs was one of the top 2 running backs in the state, Tom Rusk, later to  become an All Big Ten Conference linebacker who led the Big Ten in tackles as a sophomore. Only in part a tribute to Iowa's lackluster offense which left the defense on the field a lot. Tom was a helluva player, and rang my bell more than once but I never told him so until 35 years later, or he'd have had my lunch in practice. The other RB, Olson, who I miss to this day died in a lightening strike a few years after graduating from college.
« Last Edit: July 16, 2019, 12:35:44 AM by Hawkinole »
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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #31 on: July 16, 2019, 03:59:28 AM »
Let's look at 1974:
1. Oklahoma...attempted 7.5 passes per game.  HC Switzer, who we know ran the option.
2. USC 14.1      HC McKay, who we know loved the toss sweep, not an option offense.
3. Michigan 11.5
4. Ohio St 9.3
5. Alabama 11.4
6. Notre Dame 21.4
7. Penn St 17.5
8. Auburn 9.5
9. Nebraska 18.6
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So with 20 being crazy-high, pass-happy and below 10 being possibly option, we've got OSU and Auburn at possibly option.

Same list of teams, with where the QB ranks in number of carries:
1. Oklahoma - 2nd
2. USC - 3rd
3. Michigan - 4th
4. Ohio St - 2nd
5. Alabama - 2nd
6. Notre Dame - 3rd
7. Penn St - 7th
8. Auburn - 2nd
9. Nebraska - 6th

So this list sort of aligns with the other - OU, OSU, and Auburn had few pass attempts AND QBs with a lot of carries.  Safe to call these option teams.  
Luckily, the UM-OSU game was a big game in 1974.  You can watch it on youtube.  Both teams have a lot of option with a little I-formation handoffs and passes sprinkled in.  I'd call Michigan an option team for that year.
Also, the 1974 Iron Bowl was a big game.  Auburn running the veer and Bama in the wishbone.  So Bama's relatively low pass attempts and their QB having the 2nd-most carries confirms statistically with the video evidence.
-
Now yes, many of these helmet teams from the past have archived footage available....but the #10 team from 1974 is missing here.  It was Miami of Ohio.  Not going to find videos of them or the other non-helmets to confirm or deny types of offense.
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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #32 on: July 16, 2019, 04:17:01 AM »
Another method that works for 70s football is seeing if the QB has more carries than pass attempts.  While UM's QB only had the 4th-most carries on the team, he still ran more than he passed.  


These methods work well for 1974, but not for the mid-90s (to now).  Even option stalwart Nebraska was passing the ball 20 times per game in the mid-90s, despite being effective on the ground, running that offense.
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Cincydawg

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #33 on: July 16, 2019, 07:27:06 AM »
It's interesting, to me, how popular the veer was circa 1975 and then it drifted away.  Johnson ran a modification of it of course, as did a few others of minor note.

Most teams in the 90s seemed to run something akin to a "pro style" and then of course the "read option" got hot.  Spurrier had his variations based on a lot of passing.

Everyone is looking for an angle.  Look how often the Wild Cat gets run these days (not consistently of course but as a change of pace, which defenses should be able to spot quickly).  I think it would be fun to have a good running back who also can throw 40 yards downfield.

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ELA

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #34 on: July 16, 2019, 07:53:15 AM »
Quote from: Cincydawg on July 16, 2019, 07:27:06 AM
 I think it would be fun to have a good running back who also can throw 40 yards downfield.


It worked pretty well

Image result for tim tebow Florida
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Cincydawg

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #35 on: July 16, 2019, 07:56:48 AM »
Yeah, I suppose it's rare as RBs in HS don't work on passing, but some might have the innate ability.  Run the Wildcat and have them pass.

We've all seen it tried, it works on occasion.
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FearlessF

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #36 on: July 16, 2019, 09:57:56 AM »
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Cincydawg

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #37 on: July 16, 2019, 10:20:47 AM »
Andy Johnson always had more rushing attempts than passing, and more yardage, or almost more, all three years 1971-1973.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/andy-johnson-1.html

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mcwterps1

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #38 on: July 16, 2019, 08:38:20 PM »
Ralph Friedgen ran option a lot.  Joe Hamilton at GT and Scott McBrien at Maryland had a field day running option.
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Brutus Buckeye

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #39 on: July 16, 2019, 10:18:06 PM »
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MarqHusker

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #40 on: July 16, 2019, 10:20:21 PM »
I always get a kick out of teams that try to run an option fake field goal.  Nothing like trying to get to the edge with the holder and a kicker.

Thinking about that, reminds me of attending a Panthers/Cowboys game at the old stadium in Irving.   It was a pathetic game (I attended a great OU/UT game the day before) and I recall one play when the Cowboys actually tried running an option with Quincy Carter and Emmitt and Smith wasn't keeping up with the pitch relationship and Carter pitched the ball with Smith trailing behind a good yard and it bounced to the sideline OOB, I think Rucker almost recovered it.
« Last Edit: July 16, 2019, 10:32:21 PM by MarqHusker »
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FearlessF

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #41 on: July 16, 2019, 10:26:23 PM »
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