Option football...Why don't more teams run it?

[BGIF]

Holtz recognized the limitations of the Option in the early 90's. Do you really think he recruited Powlus to run the Option? Do you think he recruited Randy Moss to block in an Option Offense?

Like Leahy in 1941 Holtz was scrapping the "standard offense" of the Irish. Onlike Leahy he didn't have the nerve to do it cold turkey. Remember the "Blarney Offense" that he developed after conferring with some head coach in the Wyoming area. Some guy named Tiller that played a style of offense called, "Basketball on Grass". A "gimmick" Irish fans screamed. It was supposed to make the transition from "smashmouth" to pro-set.

It's not "smashmouth football," Joe Moore whined, "It's an insult to my linemen." And Joe fought it every step of the way. Joe hated pass blocking and balked at teaching it. Remember Brad Williams starting at OG in Croke Park against Navy? He was a DL that Holtz personally put on the OLine a few days before kickoff to send a message to Moore and all the OLs, "If you won't play it, I'll play someone who at least will try."

Another problem with the Blarney was Lou didn't have the receivers nor know how to gameplan for it.

Final comments on the Option. IF it was still so viable for Div 1 teams lacking in talent why didn't Holtz use it as SCAR which historically has lacked talent?

He realized that premier teams like OSU stuffed it at ND (see '95 and '96) and many teams in the SEC had the team speed to do that as well.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

The option is a "gimmick"?

Yes.

Isn't it a strategy like the Single Wing, Rockne Shift, T-Formation, Veer, Wishbone, Run and Shoot, West Coast, etc, etc? One that's been around for several decades. Actually one of the longest running offenses in college football history. Not bad for a "gimmick".

Some are gimmicks, some are not. Stringing out a bunch of guys East-West running the ball and HOPING that the other team makes a mistake so you get yards is a gimmick.

Defending the option is about discipline. A well disciplined team will defeat it every time...UNLESS they are hopelessly outmanned. (like when Nebraska or ND would roll teams like Vandrebilt)

You were what 5 years old when Holtz was the Jets head coach 30 years ago. You remember it well, huh? *snicker*

Never said I watched it live...but I have seen a few shows about the evolution of college ball and talked with a few coaches about the Option (because when I started learning about FB it was the Holtz era and the option was what we were running.

And in doing so, I have seen the implementation of the option in the NFL. It did not go well.

1) Those were bowl games where Miami had a full month to practice nothing but Option Defense.

Exactly my point. If you prepare for it, you can beat it. Miami showed that a disciplined team of equal talent will crush the option.

tOSU showed us that AT HOME (I was there...it was embarassing).

2) They were all HOME games for Miami
3) Nebraska got to play in the steambath that is Miami. Ever wonder why Miami doesn't like to leave the South? They lose their environment edge.

1) Nebraska is hotter than hell in the summer, so heat is not a concern for Neb players.
2) It was not the environment edge...Nebraska got utterly destroyed from the opening whistle. (259 total yards, 114 for Crouch)

4) Nebraska never had 3 WRs, they rarely had 1. Anybody could play man coverage on them back then.

That's the talent edge. Nebraska played teams it was more talented than. When it ran into an equal team it got stomped.

The option only works is you cause mental mistakes in the other team...or you are simply more powerful than them.

 

[Dannyboy Ayers]

there is more discipline in the pros at the DE spot and the LBs the speed is much faster and the holes will close on you quicker. this is one reason why you don't see at the pro level. another reason is you don't want you r 8 million a year QB running into Ray lewis every play. Atlanta looked good when they ran it (all of 8 times a game) but as soon as coaches saw them run it they now tell their players to maintain discipline and contain the outside just like the Saints did and look how that game turned out. the option is great at the High school level where 4 out of 11 players on the field are good and the other 7 are just taking a spot on the field.