Best Offensive Formations for High School

[BigBlue02 11]

reason you think its not good is because you've not had success with it.I like the 5-3 but not many people are running it now a days,most are switching to a 4-3.I would like to see Richlands run the spread offense this year but then again we have always ran the I as far back as I can remember.

[bigorange_66 10]

I just don't like it because of they success we've had playing against it. We run the 4-4 defense and have pretty good success with it. We have a lot of speed at linebacker and it really helps us out with teams who like to spread us out and try to throw it.

[Lance 228]

Here's an article on the read option...pretty good article...figured you guys might like to check it out:

 

Original link to the article is HERE!

 

Reading is fundamental

Posted: November 1, 2004

 

By Matt Hayes

Sporting News

 

 

He's certainly not taking credit for this innovative scheme, nor is he claiming that his team runs it best. But on that day four years ago, when Northwestern coach Randy Walker introduced us all to the read option offense, he might as well have rolled out the wheel for the first time.

 

There was big, bad Michigan, forced into a sandlot game of whoever scores last wins against those lovable losers from Northwestern. The Wildcats hung 54 points on Michigan that day, eventually securing a wild, 54-51 victory and opening the college football world's eyes to a funky concept that had the guys with the bigger, faster athletes chasing the guys with the smaller, slower ones.

 

"It was just a little curveball that we hoped they'd have trouble adjusting to," Walker says.

 

The little offense of deception now has evolved into a legitimate monster of a scheme used in some form by a majority of the teams in the nation. More than likely, the offense originated in one of the smaller NCAA divisions, but it arrived in Division I in the 1990s, when a few members of the MAC began using it.

 

One of those teams was Miami (Ohio), where Walker coached before leaving for Northwestern. Toledo ran it under Gary Pinkel, who now runs it exclusively at Missouri. Four years ago, Urban Meyer brought the offense to Bowling Green; now he runs it at Utah. About 10 percent of the teams in Division I-A run the offense exclusively, but just about every team uses the signature play of the scheme -- the option from the shotgun.

 

A mobile, dynamic quarterback -- Missouri's Brad Smith, Utah's Alex Smith, Texas A&M's Reggie McNeal -- is the most important ingredient. Because the base play is the option, the quarterback will get at least 10 carries a game and has the "option" to keep the ball and run, hand off to a running back or fake and throw. A breakdown of the quarterback's responsibilities and options in this system:

 

1. Quarterback option read. This is the key to the system. At the snap, the quarterback reads the defensive end on the weak side (without the tight end) of the line. If the end crashes to the inside to stop the run, the quarterback fakes to the running back and keeps the ball running to the weak side left vulnerable by the crashing end. If the end stays outside in his area of responsibility, the quarterback hands to the running back, who follows the play inside or bumps it out to the strong side.

 

2. Quarterback keep (inside). There are two variations of this option. The QB can fake to the running back and follow him through the hole, or run a draw -- off a short drop with no fake. The short drop forces linebackers to move into coverage away from the line of scrimmage, while the defensive line begins to pass rush. The straight run off the fake usually is used in short-yardage situations.

 

3. Throwing short off the read. The quarterback takes the snap, fakes to the running back and, without dropping back, turns his shoulders and hips to where he's throwing. The objective is to find a quick slant to the slot receiver or a curl route to the split end. If the offense is run correctly, it takes away some of the aggressiveness of the defensive front seven by making them hesitate as they look for a run.

 

4. Throwing intermediate to deep off the read. The base play here is a fake to the running back, with the quarterback rolling to either side of the field with three options: a deep route to the slot receiver or the split end; an out route or curl pattern to the slot receiver or the split end, or a short dump-off to a third receiver. The three receivers flood a certain area of the field to force zone defenses to make decisions in coverage or find breakdowns in man coverage.

 

5. Wide receiver option. The split end comes in motion, and the ball is snapped when he reaches the tackle spot at the line of scrimmage. The quarterback fakes the inside handoff, forcing the end to crash inside. The option with the trailing split end -- who curls around and behind the play at the snap -- is then run toward the spot the end vacated, usually forcing a cornerback or safety to make the tackle.

 

 

The top five read option quarterbacks

1. Alex Smith, Utah. The most complete player of the group, he has a. strong arm and runs with an attitude.

 

2. Matt Jones, Arkansas. He's the most dangerous runner among read option quarterbacks because he's deceptively quick and runs harder than most tailbacks. His passing accuracy has improved this season.

 

3. Brad Smith, Missouri. The coaching staff has taken away some of his ability to create by forcing him to be more of a thrower.

 

4. Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M. He's finally beginning to blossom into the star many believed he'd be. He has the most elusiveness of this group.

 

5. Vincent Young, Texas. It's painful to watch him throw -- but every bit as painful for defenses to adjust to his speed and moves on the run.

 

 

Defending the read option

There are three keys, according to the coordinator for a top 10 team:

 

1. Ends and linebackers must be disciplined. Breakdowns occur when defenders don't carry out their assignments and instead freelance and overrun the play.

 

2. Defensive linemen must get their hands up in pass-rush situations. Many quick throws from the read option -- especially the slants -- can be knocked away at the line of scrimmage.

 

3. Defensive tackles must concentrate on gap control. Most of the read option is run between the offensive tackles. Defensive tackles don't necessarily have to beat blocks, they just have to hold ground and take up space so runners are forced to stutter behind the line while looking for holes.

[BigD4VT 11]

I think Richlands will always use the I-formation but they add and subtract other formations from year to year based on the personnel they have. I think we'll still see a lot of "I" this year but because they have a strong armed QB, a bunch of tall WR's, and a TB who's strength is running in open space I think we'll see the spread more than ever.

 

Defensively I like an 8-man front. Most HS teams run more than pass, so a 4-4 or maybe a VT style 4-3 where the rover (SS) plays close to the line is the way to go.

[bigorange_66 10]

I always loved the Power-I with a lot of traps and counters like we used to run. But we ran the exact same offense for so long that teams eventually caught on and knew exactly what to expect. I just don't understand why Coach Rhea didn't change the offense any. When Hensley took over he really added a spark to the offense by throwing in the Veer and Shotgun.

[BigD4VT 11]

I think you have to add wrinkles to your offense every year to keep defenses on their toes, and like I said above, I think HS coaches have to build their offense around personnel because they don't have the luxury of building personnel around their offense like college and pro coaches do, but I do think you need a flexible scheme to build from so you aren't learning a whole new playbook every year, ie; wishbone one year, shotgun spread the next. Richlands basically used the "I" and the shotgun with 3-4 WR's last year, and I don't think it will be any different this year except that we'll see more of the spread and more passing.

 

My favorite type of offense is the Nebraska style option. They don't run it anymore after they hired an NFL coach but I assume Frank Solich is using it at Ohio.

[Fighton_3 10]

If you have a QB that can run and pass....I think the spread is the most affective offense. Because it does just what it says...spreads everyone out...so there's plenty of running room.....and with that many recievers, it would put confusion in the secondary and with the linebackers unless the team was VERY well prepared....A speed option would be evil out of the spread.....that's my 2 cents.

[djr4hurleyfb 12]

[ QUOTE ]

if anyone around here ever puts a true read option offense in to place, they will dominate...to do that you need 3 skilled players - QB, RB, and TE...QB being the key...has to be able to run the ball and throw the ball and be smart enough to understand the defensive reads...no one around here has ever tried this offense fully...you can call it a Veer or a Option offense or whatever...it's still not the true read option offense...it might take you a few games to get things together, but once you got it you would be able to dominate about any team in the area until defenses adjust, because I don't think at a HS level the defense can fully adjust to it if it is run properly...just my opinion.

 

[/ QUOTE ]

 

I agree with your assessment and believe that any team who fully incorporates this offense could potentially be very hard to stop. However, I do think that the high school style of defenses (most typically play with 8 man fronts every down) could spell many turnovers as well. With the 5-3, the QB not only has to read the DE, but there are two interior DLs as well to contend with, not to mention the MLB and the OLB on that side. If the read plays do not work, then the passing game will have to be utilized outside of the "read passes", ie no option to run, simply hike it and throw.

 

In addition, very few high school teams are good "blocking" teams. This offense includes a lot of intricate blocking, OL's pulling, OL's getting to a spot for a block, and WRs have to be highly capable blockers as well. Without better than average blocking skills, this offense goes nowhere fast.

 

Of course, I think if a coach was dedicated, this system could be put in place and be of great success (just like the Single Wing) if it was taught farm system style.

 

Defensively, I prefer the 5-3 in high school. You may be exposing the seams big time, but most teams have to be balanced to beat a 5-3 in high school (and IMO, that challenge is hard to overcome for a lot of high school teams).