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AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Trap Options

by: John Gendron
by: Tim Stowers
former Head Coach, University of Rhode Island & Georgia Southern
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The core play of a spread option offense is the triple option. Defenses must commit to stop the triple. This commitment by defenses to stopping the triple will create the potential for big plays on the perimeter, especially as the game progresses. Two plays that give the spread option offense the ability to exploit this and get the ball outside are the trap option and the counter dive option. The advantage of these plays is that they allow you to get the ball outside without having the QB read his way out. This is achieved by having offensive lineman block the dive key, thus eliminating one of the QB’s reads. While both plays employ different backfield actions, they use the same blocking scheme. This simple concept of one blocking scheme for two plays is of great benefit to the offense and can create some problems for defenses.

When to Run Trap Option
or Counter Dive Option
Whenever the dive key starts to consistently come down hard and take away the dive on the triple or the trap, it’s time to run either the trap option or the counter dive option. These plays will allow the offense to get the ball on the perimeter by holding the inside LBs with either the trap fake on the trap option or the counter dive action on the counter dive option. We will look at these two plays here and the time-tested blocking schemes they employ. However, the option coach is only limited by his imagination in using this blocking scheme to create ways to get the ball outside without reading your way out.

Offensive Line Blocking Rules for
Trap Option and Counter Dive Option
(See Diagrams 1-4)
Play-side Tackle – Release inside block LB over you to the inside (play-side linebacker). Make call to the back-side guard: (4i, 4, 5)
Play-side Guard –
• Covered – Base
• Uncovered – Combo nose with center to the back-side linebacker.
Center – Block back to a 3-Technique
Back-side Guard – Pull and seal the 5-technique area. Listen for play-side tackle’s call. Wrap for play-side linebacker on 4i call, read on run on 4-call, log dive key on 5-call.
Back-side Tackle – Anchor down to stack.

Detailed Look at Offensive Line Blocking for Trap Option and Counter Dive Option
In these plays the play-side tackle and the back-side guard are responsible for blocking the dive key and the play-side linebacker (in the spread option system the play-side LB is the first LB over the play-side tackle to the inside who is not in the triple option count) 1. The play-side tackle needs to communicate to the back-side guard the alignment of the dive key.

If the dive key is in an inside alignment on the play-side tackle (See Diagram 1) he will make a “4i call”. This communicates that the play-side tackle will block the dive key and the back-side guard will pull around that block and log the play-side linebacker.
If the dive key aligns in a head-up alignment, the tackle will make a “4-call”. This will alert the back-side guard that the play-side tackle is unsure of where the dive key will go and the back-side guard will have to “read it on the run”. If the dive key squeezes hard across the face of the tackle as he releases inside, the play-side tackle will block him. If the 4-technique slants outside, the play-side tackle will release inside and climb for the inside LB and the back-side guard will log the dive key.
If the dive key aligns in an outside technique over the play-side tackle, the tackle will make a “5-call” (See Diagrams 2, 3, and 4). This will indicate to the back-side guard that he will log the dive key and the play-side tackle will release inside to block the play-side linebacker. The play-side tackle’s technique for releasing inside is to step up the field with his inside foot, dip and rip his outside shoulder to avoid contact with the dive key, remain as square as possible and climb to block the first linebacker over him to the inside.
There are occasions when a very athletic 5-technique is squeezing really hard and will not allow the tackle to get on the play-side linebacker. If the back-side guard logs the 5-technique in this situation he has occupied two offensive linemen leaving the play-side linebacker unblocked. This could result in a negative play with the potential for a turnover. When this occurs, an excellent counter for the play-side tackle is to use a “reverse crab” technique. In the reverse crab technique, the play-side tackle steps, dips, and rips up the field using his escape technique. As soon as he feels the dive key not allowing him to climb up on the linebacker, he throws his hands to the ground and works his play-side hip to the play-side hip of the dive key thus shielding the QB from the dive key. The back-side guard pulls, since he heard the 5-call by the play-side tackle and was expecting to log the 5 but instead “reads this on the run,” wraps tight around the play-side tackle’s reverse crab block and logs the play-side linebacker.
If the play-side guard is covered, he base blocks any defender covering him. If he is uncovered, he combos the nose guard with the center to the back-side linebacker.
The center blocks back to a 3-technique. If there is not a defender aligned on the back-side guard, in the back-side A-gap or a back-side shade, then the center will base block the nose guard. If the center has a play-side shade and the back-side guard is covered, he will make a down call to alert the play-side guard that he is blocking back and the play-side guard will have the play-side shade alone (See Diagram 3).
The back-side guard pulls flat down the LOS and will log either the dive key or the play-side LB depending on the call made by the play-side tackle. If the dive key or the play-side linebacker gets up the field, the back-side guard will kick him out and the QB will run inside that block.
The back-side tackle pass protects any defensive lineman over him to the back-side. He also needs to check and make sure no linebacker runs through the back-side B-gap (anchor down to stack).

Backfield Action Trap Option
(See Diagrams 1 and 2)
The QB will turn a full 360º on this play. His mechanics are as follows: step with his play-side foot to 4 o’clock. Second step is with back-side foot to 5 o’clock (Coaching Point: get head around fast). Shoulders should be perpendicular to the LOS. Hook up with the B-back on the second step. Ride B-back into the LOS on the third step. On the third step, disengage with the B-back and get downhill and around the log block or inside the kick-out block, ready to pitch to the back-side slot if the pitch key closes (See Diagrams 1 and 2).

The B-back steps midline with his play-side foot, crosses over with his back-side foot, meshes with the QB, disengages, and gets ready to block any LB run-through or find a route to get to the back-side linebacker.
The play-side slotback blocks run support. Versus 7-man fronts with a two-deep secondary, the slot will arc block either the corner or the safety – whichever one is positioned in a more threatening alignment. Versus 8-man fronts with one high safety, he will block the play-side linebacker to the safety.
The back-side slot will go in short motion and get into pitch relationship with the QB.
The wide receivers will block non-run support. Versus 7-man fronts with a two deep secondary, the WR will block either the corner or the safety – whichever one is positioned in the least threatening alignment. Versus 8-man fronts with one high safety, he will block the deep 1/3 corner.

Counter Dive Option
The second play, the counter dive option, uses a counter dive backfield action. This play is equally effective in getting the ball outside without having the QB read his way out. It also has the added advantage of using a misdirection-type backfield action and a misdirection-type motion (twirl motion) by the play-side slot. This will allow the offense to take advantage of teams that attempt to pre-rotate their secondary or slide their LBs with the normal short motion of the back-side slot.

Backfield Action Counter Dive Option
(See Diagrams 3 and 4)
The QB will step like he is running the triple option opposite the direction that the counter dive option is going. He will flash fake to the B-back, seat the ball, pivot into the LOS, drop step, square up, and option the pitch key. With a threatening pitch key on the LOS, the QB should just open to the side the play is being run, let the back-side guard clear, and option the pitch key.
The B-back will run his triple option track opposite the call and block the back-side linebacker.

The play-side slot-back goes in twirl motion prior to the snap of the ball. He takes three steps as if he were going in short motion like a back-side slot. On his third step he will turn back into the LOS and block the run support defender. Versus 7-man fronts with a two-deep secondary, the slot will arc block either the corner or the safety – whichever one is positioned in a more threatening alignment. Versus 8-man fronts with one high safety, he will block the play-side linebacker to the safety.

The back-side slot takes off on the snap of the ball and gets into pitch relationship with the QB.

The Wide Receivers: Same as Trap Option






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