The Option, Reinvented pt.1

Today, we'll take a short look at how the option has been reshaped in today's modern game. In this post, we will visit a new form of the triple option, coined by former U of Florida HC Urban Meyer.

THE SHOVEL OPTION

By Definition, a shovel pass is when a quarterback pitches the ball to a player in front of him behind the line of scrimmage; since the ball is going forward, it is considered a pass and not a run. The name of this flicking motion has long been disputed, with many people using the terms shovel, shuffle, and scuttle. You say potatoes, I say potahtos, either way it doesn't matter. The shovel was often used as a variation of a draw for a long period of time until Mr. Meyer made it a staple of the option game.


 Just for reference purposes, this is your basic shotgun triple option out of the split

This, on the other hand, is the shotgun shovel option


Notice, instead of having a mesh for the inside option (see B back in upper picture), there is an inside shovel threat with the trailing tight end. The back adjacent to the quarterback then provides the pitch threat, creating a true triple option look.

After Meyer's stint at Bowling Green and Utah, he brought his innovation to the SEC; lucky for him, he had a 240lb bowling ball at quarterback.

Former Gator quarterback Tim Tebow became a superstar perfecting plays like this, leading his team to two national championship games. Unfortunately, his professional career was short-lived, possibly because the ball hit the turf as many times as his receivers (48% career completion percentage). Still, he is considered one of the top college quarterbacks in FBS history, and for good reason.

Here, the defensive end followed Tebow laterally, which left Aaron Hernandez wide open to bullet (pun intended) towards the end zone.

The idea of the shovel has since been tinkered with, substituting pitches with pass patterns, adding pre-snap screens, isolation routes, etc.

Here's using the shovel in the empty formation, using a play-side bubble to take place of a pitch. This variation spreads out the defense; sometimes the most effective running formations are spread out like this. 

This play uses a pre-snap read to the right hash and two post-snap reads to the left hash. If you don't know what that means, look at some of the previous posts. 

Well that's it for today. Maybe later we can explore some other aspects of Florida's (once) juggernaut offense another time. Until then, eat, drink, and be merry. Or be married. Tomato, tomahto.

Package Plays in All Forms pt.3a

In the past week or two, we have been taking a look at how specific teams use advanced concepts to move the football and score points. These advanced concepts, specifically package plays, have been all the rage in the college football world. Today, this post will continue on that path. This is the third part in the Package Play series, with the third post being divided into two subparts - this is the first.
ARIZONA STATE/ UCLA - Into the Mind of Noel Mazzone

Last post, we took a look at how Rich Rodriguez used a predominately zone-based running scheme and an outside passing threat to enhance the effectiveness of his offense. Today, we will take a look at one of the lesser-known offensive geniuses of the football world - Noel Mazzone.

Mazzone, who after a two year stint at Arizona State, took the offensive coordinator job at UCLA in 2012. Immediately the year he was hired, the Bruins increased their PPG average by roughly two touchdowns and their YPG by about 90 yards. Mazzone uses a similar scheme to Rodriguez', but includes a lot more pre-snap motion with his backs and receivers. If you haven't already read the piece on Rich Rodriguez, take a look at the post below.

This scheme above is a common play in college football, with an inside zone and an outside screen threat.

Mazzone uses motion to accomplish the same thing. Here, the left slot receiver runs across the formation before the snap and runs a swing towards the sideline. This gives the quarterback an opportunity to read the defense and observe their coverage. If the corner on the motion-man stays put and does not run with the receiver before the snap, this gives the quarterback a 3-on-2 advantage, leaving the swing route wide open (provided that the receivers all block). If the corner follows the receiver in motion, the quarterback then keeps the advantage in the box, with 5-on-5 (or with a zone read, 5-on-4). 

Here's another example of using a motion into the backfield opposed to a motion across the formation.

In this example, the "Z" receiver runs in motion behind the formation and both the offensive line and the back execute a variation of the buck sweep to the side opposite of the motion. This is a very similar scheme to the one above. If the corner on the motion receiver stays put, the quarterback throws to swinging receiver (since he has a 3-on-2 advantage). No one follows the receiver in the gif below, but the defense shifts along with the motion, putting three defenders on the right side and therefore nullifying that option. The quarterback then makes the correct decision by handing the ball off.

Mazzone doesn't only use motions - he also uses the same concepts without motions, giving him an opportunity to go at a quicker pace. 

Here's an example of the inside zone and bubble:

corner directly on the inside slot receiver (although he blitzes after the snap); leads to handoff

ASU goes no-huddle, USC forces to repeat the same defensive coverage. Osweiler quickly throws the ball to the outside, knowing that the corner is blitzing like the play before.

In the next post, we will look at Mazzone's signature package, on top of exploring the popular play-calling strategies of a successful offensive coordinator. For any extra coverage on what we've talked about today, or to learn more about the modern spread offense, go to www.fishduck.com. This Oregon beat website has great scouting reports on opposing teams in the Pac-12, along with coverage on the Ducks.