What Would a Triple Option Look Like Run by a Major Program?
Saw this asked during the liveblog with no responses. For the more football savvy of our community, what would a triple option offense look like if a major program ran it? I'm thinking an LSU, a USC, a Nebraska, etc. Curious to see how a school that could recruit top tier D1 talent could pull it off. Why isn't it more prevalent in today's game?
Amazing that Air Force can execute it that well with 260 lb lineman. What if Alabama's line was executing it, and their backs were executing it?
September 10th, 2012 at 1:39 AM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^
the triple option started to go out of style in '77 when the rules were changed to allow linemen to use their hands as long as they kept them inside. That was a huge boost to the passing game, since in pass protect you're always blocking somebody who's facing you and trying to get to a spot behind you. It wasn't nearly so much help to wishbone teams. It gave a big boost to the pass vs. the run, and a big relative advantage to pro-style and spread offenses over the older style wishbones and OSU-style power I.
September 9th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 10:52 AM ^
Don't fall for the announcers comments that "it's unstoppable if run well."
Good defenses shut it down, and punish the QB.
Like someone else posted, when it's shut down, it's a pathetic parade of 3 and outs.
September 10th, 2012 at 1:55 PM ^
Nobody's shut it down in about four years, and they've played good defenses.
Here's a list of everyone that's held them under 4.0 ypc:
2012: no one yet
2011: Army
2010: Georgia Tech
2009: Minnesota, Navy, Army, BYU
They haven't really been stoned by anyone since 2008 Utah, who you might remember held Alabama and Michigan under 40 yards rushing.
It's not as if they haven't played some good teams: they gashed Oklahoma in 2010 (351/63) and they play TCU every year. The interesting thing, and this goes back more than just the four years, is that the only teams that hold them consistently are the other service academies, which seems to confirm that it's preparation, not quality of defense, that's the solution.
September 9th, 2012 at 10:53 AM ^
Dare I say we are fully on the road to recovery?
No thread about AZ over OSU?
Thank God!