Option football has been around for decades. Going back to the days of Oklahoma Wishbone to the Flexbone that Paul Johnson runs at Georgia Tech now, option has been an extremely effective offense. The key to option offense is that it forces defenses to play assignment football. Mullen/Meyer took the option game and brought it to their form of the Spread Offense. There are three forms of the option in this offense: The Zone Read Option, The Speed/Shovel Option, and the Load Option.
This is specifically for that defensive end/5-technique. With the Mullen/Meyer offense, a lot of pressure is put on that 5-tech with the zone read and trap series. When the option game is put into place, it results in the 5-tech playing soft, being scared of making the wrong decision and being the cause of an offensive touchdown.
14/15 Read Option
The Read Option is based off of the Zone Read, the base play of Mullen/Meyer's. It is a form of the old triple option, in which the QB can give the ball to the running back, keep the football and run with it, or pitch the football to the 2nd back. The quarterback will read his 5-technique key to decide whether to give the ball to the zone back, or keep it. If the 5-tech stays he will give the ball, if he chases the zone back, he will keep it and read the most dangerous defender deciding to pitch the ball or not.
14/15 Read Option
The Read Option play is based off of the Read base play, therefore the base zone rules are used.
PST - Base block the 5-tech
PSG/C - Combo the 3-tech to the mike, the Center can make his reads and scoop directly to the Mike.
BSG - Base on Nose
BST – Block down through the B-gap to the largest threat (Mike to Safety)
FB - Aiming point is the outside leg of the PSG, reading the 1st DL passed the Center
QB - Open and read backside C-gap defender. If End is blocked give, then carry out Fake.
RB- Open and keep pitch relationship with the QB. Be ready for the football at all times from the QB.
8/9 Speed Option
This play is run to counter the defense tightening the box down to stop the inside run. When you are playing an aggressive 5-technique, who likes to get up field, using the option plays causes that 5-tech to slow their game down. This is especially effective vs. a 1-5 DL technique side!
8/9 Speed Option
PST- Identify the option man. Veer release to inside backer.
PSG- Covered- Zone block onto man over you, combo off to backer. Uncovered- Zone step and make it to the next level. Work to seal off the defense from the inside-out.
C- Covered- Zone block onto man over you, combo off to backer. Uncovered- Zone step and make it to the next level. Work to seal off the defense from the inside-out.
BSG- Covered- Zone block onto man over you, combo off to backer. Uncovered- Zone step and make it to the next level. Work to seal off the defense from the inside-out.
BST- Uncovered/Covered- Zone step and combo 3 tech or to the backer. Work to seal off the defense from the inside-out.
Slot WR- Identify 2nd level head up or inside threat. Stalk block that man. If no threat, move to the safety.
Outside WR- Stalk block and seal off CB.
QB – The QB will attack and pitch off C-gap defender. Aim at the outside shoulder.
"Capture the shoulder, sink the hips, and pitch ball to the back, then follow"
RB - Keep good pitch phase/relationship. Needs to be 5x1. 5 yards outside and
1 yard back. Catch and secure the pitch, look outside and read WR block.
QB Ball Handling and Mechanics for Speed and Read Option
Speed Option is trying to stress the D, and this is done by pitching off the C-Gap (5-tech) defender, stretching the field horizontally. Pitch relationship has to be kept at all times.
- IF the pitch key is a stationary player on the LOS, attack the outside shoulder and pitch.
- IF the pitch key is fast-flowing and attacking the QB, RB should expect the pitch early.
- IF the pitch key runs straight up field, then pitch as soon as there is leverage.
6/7 Shovel Option
As the triple option game continued to improve out of the spread offense, Mullen/Meyer looked for another way to get the ball into their player’s hands and cause stress on the 5-technique. The answer was the shovel option. The shovel option looks like Speed Option, but a man is trailing the QB waiting to receive the shovel pass. The best part about it, is that if the shovel pass is dropped, it is treated like a pass, so the ball is not alive.
6/7 Shovel
PST - Wants to come and block the middle to BS backer
PSG - Down on Nose
Center - Gap-Back
BSG - Pull to frontside LB
BST - Hinge
QB - Shovel/Pitch off of the C-gap defender; If defender squeezes down to take
shovel away then run speed. If defender is upfield, shovel underneath.
Shovel Player - Needs sprint flat down the line
RB - keep pitch relationship, may receive pitch.
Breakdown of the 1st play in the youtube video
The Shovel man this time is coming from the TE position. This puts a lot of stress on the defense, because they usually do not account for the TE in the running game. Below is a diagram of the end zone shot of 6/7 Shovel.
As the play begins, the playside guard and tackle get a great double team, opening up the hole for the shovel player. The backside guard is pulling and squaring his shoulders up to lead through the hole.
The key is the option 5-technique. If he attacks the QB, the QB will be able to hit the shovel man. If he sits on the shovel man, the QB and RB continue to finish out the option play as if it was Speed Option. In this case, the 5-tech is getting up field, setting up the shovel pass.
The QB makes the right choice, making the shovel pass, allowing the TE to take it in for a TD!
This concludes my breakdown of the Mullen/Meyer running game. These are their main plays out of basic formations. Mullen and Meyer make a living out of running the same plays, but using different formation and motions to get the matchup they want.
It is clinic season, feel free to come up and say hi if you see me at a clinic. Also, I will be presenting at the Feb 26 at the St. Louis Glazier clinic, so come on out!
http://www.glazierclinics.com/tabid/261/Default.aspx?cid=312
As always, I would like to thank www.chiefpigskin.com for the opportunity to contribute to one of the best blogs on the web.
