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Topic: Who Ran the Option?

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CWSooner

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #42 on: July 16, 2019, 10:47:02 PM »
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.
Houston ran the veer by 1969.  OU copied and started the '70 season with the veer.  It didn't go well, what with a loss in Norman to Oregon State, so during the bye week before the Texas game OC Barry Switzer convinced HFC Chuck Fairbanks to switch to the wishbone.

The Sooners got drilled by Texas, 41-9, but the new offense showed enough promise that they kept it.
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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #43 on: July 17, 2019, 01:02:47 AM »
Ralph Friedgen ran option a lot.  Joe Hamilton at GT and Scott McBrien at Maryland had a field day running option.

Thanks, I hadn't thought about him.  I'll do some research.
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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #44 on: July 17, 2019, 01:04:53 AM »
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.
By then, Carter was probably faster than Emmitt.
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FearlessF

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #45 on: July 17, 2019, 07:45:54 AM »
so was Rucker
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Cincydawg

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #46 on: July 17, 2019, 07:53:12 AM »
I see a lot of high schools run the option, which makes sense, but imagine you are a real pro style QB living in that district.  I guess if you're that good you go somewhere else.  A HS team that can pass effectively is probably so strange for most defenses they can light them up.

What are HS games like in your area?

Brutus Buckeye

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #47 on: July 17, 2019, 08:11:59 AM »

My old HS is now three HSs. 

One runs the ball on every play. One throws the ball on every play. One has a balanced attack. 

The players go to whichever one best matches their skill set. 
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Kris60

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #48 on: July 17, 2019, 09:59:55 AM »
I see a lot of high schools run the option, which makes sense, but imagine you are a real pro style QB living in that district.  I guess if you're that good you go somewhere else.  A HS team that can pass effectively is probably so strange for most defenses they can light them up.

What are HS games like in your area?
In southern WV you will still see a lot of single wing and wing T type stuff, especially among the smaller schools.  A few years I was doing a game on radio and the opponent ran a single wing so I did a little research on it so I could try to fake like I knew what I was talking about.

I came across a funny story I shared on the air.  When Sean Payton was serving his suspension for bounty gate he coached his son’s Pop Warner team.  They rolled every team they played except this one team that ran the Single Wing and that team kicked their ass.  Couldn’t stop them.  So, they get to the playoffs, win a couple of games and are set to face the same team that beat them in the championship game.

So Payton contacts Jon Gruden and Bill Parcells to pick their brains about stopping this offense that is nearly 100 years old.  So you have 3 Super Bowl winning head coaches coming up with a game plan to stop this offense.  Payton thinks he has a plan in place and feels confident.  They go play the championship game and get smoked again. Gave up 58 points. Payton said he came away with a new appreciation for the Single Wing offense.

FearlessF

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #49 on: July 17, 2019, 10:05:28 AM »
yup, any offense will work if it's executed properly with good personel
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Cincydawg

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #50 on: July 17, 2019, 01:35:39 PM »
I watched some film of my old HS playing football recently, looks like spread option with a fair bit of passing.

Kris60

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #51 on: July 17, 2019, 01:39:40 PM »
I watched some film of my old HS playing football recently, looks like spread option with a fair bit of passing.
My old HS is running the spread too but it’s run dominated. A lot like Rod’s offenses with a heavy dose of QB runs, either called or keeping on reads.

OrangeAfroMan

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #52 on: July 17, 2019, 03:18:10 PM »
I see a lot of high schools run the option, which makes sense, but imagine you are a real pro style QB living in that district.  I guess if you're that good you go somewhere else.  A HS team that can pass effectively is probably so strange for most defenses they can light them up.

What are HS games like in your area?
I think you're underestimating the overall athleticism of high-end recruits, even QBs.  Much like the stud pitcher who is also his HS's best hitter, a big-time QB recruit is going to be an athletic stud, compared to the average HS football player.  


Even the stodgy QBs in college had some Johnny Manziel-type plays in HS, because t hey were just that much better athletically.  There's old footage of Danny Wuerffel going 70+ yards on a QB keeper in the HS state final back in the day.  Plenty more like that, i'm certain.
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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #53 on: July 17, 2019, 03:19:54 PM »
 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.
Plus you can't get a Gator and Bulldog to do anything in harmony.
“The Swamp is where Gators live.  We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous." - Steve Spurrier

Cincydawg

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #54 on: July 17, 2019, 03:37:48 PM »
Gatorama and I once dogsat Pearl and watched the WLOCP together.

I'm sure high level QB HS players are athletes, I just think they are apt to find a program that fits their style.  If they are a 6'4" 210 pounder with a rocket arm, they probably should avoid playing for an option team.

ELA

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Re: Who Ran the Option?
« Reply #55 on: July 17, 2019, 03:38:34 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.
I remember it being a big deal when they announced they were going to start trying that.  Ugh, wasn't pretty.

 

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