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