Defending the Army & Navy Triple Option

Defending the Triple Option:

From working as an offensive coach in the triple option, it helped give me an understanding of the triple option and what they are trying to accomplish. I worked with Jameson Croall at USMMA, who in my opinion is one of the best option coaches in the country. He does things a little differently because he uses so many unbalanced and end over formations as well as personnel groupings which can cause so many issues defensively. But, I did learn some valuable lessons and here is how I would defend the t triple.

But, that being said here are some tools for defending the  triple option:

1. Whether you are a 3-4 or 4-3 team you must rub to dive. You're defensive tackles in a 3-4 or your defensive ends in a 4-3 must try to collision the tackles and not allow them to free release to the next level.Keep the OT off your LB! I've ran 3-4, 4-3, 4-4 and 3-3 stack over the years. All have merit. Decide what you want to do and have a solid plan in place but you better rub to dive.

2. LB and secondary should read the slots. Teach near/to far slot read concepts. In the triple option, the slots take you to the play 95% of the time. Arc release, true triple, inside release midline with no pitch threat. Imperative that you teach your OLB and Safeties to read slots. High motion vs quick motion, high motion where ball is snapped behind qb is usually rocket toss series.

 
Twirl Motion: Trap or counter option back your way are the 2 most common plays you will see with twirl but they can essentially run anything with twirl.

3. Less is more, I've worked with coaches that try to put in 8 new defenses to defeat the triple. The best coaches against the triple get bored in the game because the game plan is simplistic. You don't need a ton of calls.  Switch the responsibilities up, feather at times, fast play at others and mix in a few cross charges,  but you don't need that many different calls.  

4. Get lined up to the heavy and end over formations. Have your checks in and your automatic calls. You should have specific rules to these formations.

5. Take advantage of some motion blitzes and stunts. Use your CB in the run game by pressing  or possible bringing him at times with the motion. Hard to block a CB fire in the triple. The SE won't block him and the slot is forced to kick him out if anything. A Very effective pressure!

6. Understand that option teams throw the ball to score. Be sound in your coverage but you really don't need to focus on underneath zones with your LB's. My opinion LB's read pass, add in to the pressure. Option teams throw vertically, underneath zones are not often threatened.

7. As a defense I want the ball pitched. People may disagree with that theory but I do everything in my power to string it out and get the ball pitched vs triple teams. I force the pull as often as  I can and get the ball out on the edge where are speed takes over and runs it down. Again, this is just my philosophy. 

8. Responsibilities: Make sure everyone understands their job. Dive player, qb player and pitch player. Try to get a plus 1 when you can. What I mean is if you're de/dt is rubbing for dive and they do their job, your LB should be on a path to the QB. That means your safety can play qb to pitch with your OLB playing pitch. You are getting a half man defender added.

9. Understand flexed sets: They run these condensed sets to try to get the ball out on the perimeter.

10. Understand the #'s and how the blocking will develop off their counts on the perimeter. Very important to understand the system and how it operates. Who they will read for dive, will load block at times and pitch off the perimeter.   

11. Work your cut drills in practice!

12. Movement and stunts have their purpose. You can move on the interior to try to give different looks. Teams have lined up head up and moved or show a 3 tech and 2i and move the other way. All have merit. It can play games with the dive key and cause confusion at times for the QB. 

Let's look at some of the topics discussed above.

Rub to Dive:

Navy Dt in a 3 techique vs Army. You can see the DT  really get a piece of the Guard and not allow him to get to the LB.

In their 4-3 the right DE on Air force rubs to dive allowing the LB to defeat the OT block. The DE displaces the OT enough to make the LB effective.

See the DE rub the OT and cause him to miss the LB.

Air Force does a great job rubbing to dive.

Read the slots:

It is pivotal that your slots and safeties read the slots.  Near slot to far slot if he goes in motion. He will take your OLB and Safeties to the play. 

Slot inserts: Midline/Belly (ball run between the tackles)

Slot arc release: Triple option/ lead option/ toss and ball possibly out on the perimeter! Important to understand for QB/pitch defenders.

Here you see them insert the slot, that's midline series, You will rarely every see the ball pitched, It is a design FB or qb run. 

Left DT is rubbing to dive against 50 and not allowing the RG to get to the LB at the next level.

Another example: Slot inserts, midline/follow. Very rarely does an inserting slot lead to a wide running perimeter play. Always a. midline/follow/belly type play.

CB Fire and stunts:

Some people like to blitz LB's and CB's on motion. Have seen both be effective. 

Navy runs a CB motion fire: Motion your way, blitz off the edge. Nice job as the CB goes untouched vs the triple. 

Unbalanced Formations

The most popular set you will see is a heavy set and you'll get a tremendous amount of belly out of it. Some times they will bring the tackle over in the right tight end spot and run it from the unbalanced look with the wing and split end over. (see below) 

Condensed sets: Condensed sets  want to get the ball out on the perimeter. You will often see the rocket toss and lead option out of condensed looks. 

Navy goes condensed on the right  and tries to run lead option that way. 

Passing Game:

Option teams throw to hit the big play after they lull you to sleep. Most times it's 7 man protection with the fullback and backside slot in motion blocking. 

Most teams will run play action with 2 verticals or the switch route.

The other play you will see is bootleg off the rocket toss.

Other than that they will break the bone and go shotgun and throw the football on those passing downs.

Wheel Route

Post option backside

Your defensive backs need to be disciplined and be able to match up and communicate with the different 2 man vertical patterns you will see. 

All in all, I hope you found this article interesting on how to defend option teams. 

I hope you found this article interesting on how to defend the triple option.