CHALK TALK BRYAN DRISKELL
The third option has proven to have
the most success. Defenses that are
able to attack the fullback and quarter-
back with its line have a great chance
for success.
A defense wants the quarterback to
make his initial decisions on its time-
frame and not his. It does not want the
quarterback to be able to carry out his
full read.
The faster the defense can force the
quarterback to either give the ball to
the fullback or pull it, the quicker the
linebackers and safeties can get on the
play. It also increases the odds for a
mistake by the quarterback.
An option attack wants its quarter-
back and running back to be running
downhill when the pitch is made. Get-
ting the quarterback to bow back from
his original path creates potential for
big defensive plays. It throws off the
timing of the pitch, and getting a quar-
terback too close or too far away from
the pitch back often leads to the ball
hitting the ground.
6. CONTROL THE MIDDLE
OF THE LINE
Getting proper penetration from the
interior players can be very disrup-
tive to the option. However, this is not
about getting penetration for the sake
of getting upfield. Playing upfield but
being out of control makes it easier for
an option offense to trap those defend-
ers and also makes cut blocks more
effective.
The ultimate goal is to take the full-
back out of the game, which forces the
offense to be more perimeter-oriented
than it wants to be. Success with the
fullback is the engine that drives most
option offenses. Taking him out of the
