Option offense keeps academies grounded

Sporting News, The, Dec 6, 1999 by Michael Bradley

Since Emory Bellard concocted the wishbone offense in the late 1960s, some form of it has persisted in college football, promising its devotees piles of ground yards.

The salad days of Oklahoma and other triple-option monsters may be long gone, but the offense still thrives at the service academies. By taking the halfbacks and moving them into the slots, the academies have created a spread formation that allows for vertical passing, in addition to multiple ground opportunities. At one point in November, Navy, Army and Air Force ranked 1-2-3 nationally in rushing offense.

Here is one of the plays the Midshipmen will use Saturday in their 100th meeting with the Cadets.

THE NAME: It's pretty basic. The spread formation is a Navy staple in which there are two wideouts and a pair of slot men on either side of a five-man line. The fullback lines up behind the quarterback, who in this case is surprising sophomore Brian Madden. "This gives us four quick receivers," Navy coach Charlie Weatherbie says.

THE BLOCKING: The left tackle seals off the defensive tackle, while the guard "scoops" to wall off the nose tackle. The center is responsible for the offside linebacker, while the right guard hits the playside (or strongside) 'backer, as does the right tackle.

The receivers aren't without major responsibilities, even if Navy does run the ball 90 percent of the time (or more). "They have to know how to block," Weatherbie says. The right receiver handles the corner in front of him, while the left wideout goes after a safety.

THE DIVE: After taking the snap, the quarterback looks at the left defensive tackle. If he stays put, the fullback gets the ball in his belly and heads up the middle. "That's an absolute," Weatherbie says. If the tackle comes after the fullback, the quarterback pulls the ball out and heads down the line.

THE OPTION: If the tackle takes the fullback, the quarterback heads right, toward the outside linebacker/end. "He's attacking the 'backer's inside shoulder and trying to make (the linebacker) tackle him," Weatherbie says. "If the linebacker doesn't come at him, the quarterback cuts inside and runs."

Should the linebacker hit the quarterback, he must pitch to the left slotback, who has been trailing him, about 5 yards deep. If the blocks have been made, a big play awaits.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]