| Triple option football has all three elements of the | | | | play. |
| different styles of running attacks - quickness, finesse | | | | The quarterback has much responsibility in triple option |
| and power. | | | | football. He must first make sure there is no confusion |
| Homer Rice is given credit for inventing triple option | | | | with his first option (whether to handoff to the fullback |
| football. He retired as Georgia Tech's athletic director in | | | | or not) in order to prevent a fumble. He must also |
| 1997. Before that, he was head coach at Kentucky, | | | | make a good pitchout to his halfback. Further |
| Oklahoma, Cincinnati and Rice. Mr. Rice also worked | | | | complications can arise if the QB makes the wrong |
| as athletic director at Rice and North Carolina as well | | | | read on the defensive tackle or end. |
| as a brief stint as head coach of the Cincinnati | | | | Here's one way to teach the quarterback to read the |
| Bengals. | | | | end - If he can see the end's number, he should pitch |
| But it was when he was coaching high school in the | | | | the football as the end is probably coming in to tackle |
| 1950's that he came up with triple option football. The | | | | him. If he sees the end coming across the line of |
| two usual triple option styles are the wishbone and | | | | scrimmage focusing on the halfback, the QB should |
| veer. | | | | keep the ball. The quarterback should also keep an out |
| The main idea behind this offensive set is to leave the | | | | for further pitch opportunities to his halfback even as |
| defensive tackle and end unblocked in order to | | | | he's making his way downfield. |
| double-team the linebackers with extra offensive | | | | The "Veer" style of triple option football adds a passing |
| lineman. This brings an element of power to this | | | | element. Bill Yeoman invented the veer in 1965 as |
| basically finesse type of running attack. | | | | coach of the Houston Cougars. That's why you'll hear |
| The "Wishbone" style of triple option football gets its | | | | it also called the "Houston Veer". Yeoman replaced the |
| name from the alignment of the backs. You have a | | | | fullback with a wide receiver and split out an end. |
| quarterback, a fullback directly behind him and then | | | | Now the QB's first option is to a diving halfback (no |
| two halfbacks split behind the fullback. At the snap, the | | | | fullback). The pitchout option then goes to the other |
| quarterback turns and puts the football in the fullback's | | | | halfback in the set. The tight end helps get the |
| gut as he reads the defensive tackle. | | | | defensive end wide by taking a wide split. At the snap, |
| If the QB sees the tackle taking outside responsibility, | | | | the tight end arcs around the end (remember, the end |
| he hands off to the fullback. If the tackle takes inside | | | | is left unblocked) to block anyone trying to tackle the |
| position, the QB keeps the ball and the fullback blocks | | | | quarterback (usually a safety). The wide-out takes on |
| the tackle. Now the quarterback's attention turns to the | | | | the cornerback. |
| defensive end. If the end comes in to tackle him, he | | | | Looking for finesse, power and quickness? Try using |
| pitches out to the halfback who is trailing behind the | | | | triple option football. |