The Quarterback Lead Option
FROM THE POWER RIGHT FORMATION THIS PLAY IS A GREAT SHORT YARDAGE/GOAL LINE PLAY FOR A QB THAT HAS AVERAGE OR BETTER RUNNING ABILITIES. THE PLAY BEGINS LIKE THE VEER. AFTER THE MESH WITH THE QB, THE FB TAKES A WIDER PATH THAN HE WOULD TAKE FOR THE VEER. THE FB IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BLOCKING THE FORCE MAN ON THIS PLAY. UNLESS THE DE HAS SOME KIND OF GAME ON, WHICH THEY NORMALLY DO NOT HAVE IN A THREE-DEEP SITUATION, THE CB WILL TAKE HIS THREE READ STEPS BACK AND TO THE OUTSIDE WHEN THE BALL IS SNAPPED. HE MUST THEN READ THE PLAY AND REACT. THIS RESULTS IN A RELATIVELY SOFT CORNER FORCE. THE IDEA IS FOR THE FB TO RUN THROUGH THE CB WITH ENOUGH FORCE THAT THE QB AND THE TB WILL PASS THIS COLLISION AND EXECUTE A PITCH DOWN FIELD, OR THE QB WILL SCORE (A BIG GAIN OR A TD!) IF THERE IS NO ONE THERE FOR THE FB TO BLOCK (WHICH SOMETIMES HAPPENS), HE IS TO BEND HIS COURSE TO THE INSIDE LOOKING TO BLOCK THE FS COMING FROM DEEP MIDDLE TO MAKE A PLAY.
AFTER MESHING WITH THE FB, THE QB POSITIONS HIMSELF ON THE OUTSIDE HIP OF THE FB STAYING TWO YARDS BEHIND. FROM THIS POSITION THE QB CAN READ THE BLOCK OF THE FB AND BEND TO THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF HIS BLOCK ON THE CB. THE QB'S JOB IS TO MOVE PAST THE BLOCK OF THE FB AND EXECUTE A PITCH DOWN FIELD WHEN THE DEFENSE THREATENS TO TACKLE HIM. OR THE QB CAN HIT THE SEAM OF THE DEFENSE AND RUN TO DAYLIGHT.
THE TB IS TO MAINTAIN A GOOD PITCH RELATIONSHIP WITH THE QB DURING THE ENTIRE PLAY. THE PITCH CAN COME AT ANYTIME DURING THE PLAY'S DEVELOPMENT. AS IN THE OPTION OR THE VEER, THE ROLE OF THE TB IS TO CARRY THE BALL ON THE OUTSIDE WITH A BURST OF SPEED WHEN HE RECEIVES THE PITCH.
THIS IS AN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE PLAY WHEN EXECUTED PROPERLY. IT QUICKLY PLACES THREE OFFENSIVE PLAYERS ON THE PERIMETER OF THE DEFENSE AGAINST JUST ONE DEFENDER. LIKE THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND NOTRE DAME, WE LIKE TO CALL THIS PLAY IN A GOAL LINE OR SHORT YARDAGE SITUATION WHICH OFTEN RESULTS IN THE QB HITTING THE SEAM BETWEEN THE CB AND THE FS FOR A SCORE.
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