Coach ,

Unless you see it often, defending the option can cause you to lose a lot of sleep during that game week.

The formations, motions, and responsibilities present something very different to your defenders.

This offense requires you to reformat your practice time in order to be able to do more group work as your defenders need to work it together, and your scout team needs to execute a different offense.

The option requires your defenders to be very disciplined with their eyes and their actions. If you cannot train that into them in the practice week then game day is going to feel very long for you!

However, if you can stay sound and get them out of rhythm, you have a good chance at success. Maybe you will even get a little sleep during the week.

Here are 3 Keys to Defending Triple:

#1) Understand Personnel

At Washington & Jefferson, Vince Luvara has had success defending triple, and to him it’s about personnel. It’s the most important aspect of how they defend it because Triple teams try to create mismatches. He explains how personnel identification and groupings work against the Triple (click on image for video):

Video: Personnel Groupings & Packages

#2) Stem the Fronts

State Champion DC Adam Gaylor, Jenks HS (OK), knows that the offense is trying to get a read on the defense to run the ball at a certain look. When the defense stems or moves, it causes the offense to have to retarget or be in the wrong play. Most offenses will not retarget and try to adjust on the move meaning that they are not un their optimum call. Coach Gaylor shares his approach to defending option here (click on image for video):

Video: Movement

#3) Play from structures your players are comfortable with

For Florida Tech DC Brian Vaugh, being able to stay in their split safety look allows the players to start in a comfort level of what they already do.  With the split safety defense, Coach Vaughn explains how they make their calls independent of each other. This can help in defending the option and making adjustments. Coach Vaughn explains Rotate Coverage here (click on image for video):

Video: Rotate Coverage

Defending option is about starting with what your players know and adjusting from there. 

As Coach Gaylor mentioned, you don’t have a lot of time to get this done.  Spending a day or two in camp can pay dividends later because it won’t be brand new to the players.

A lot goes into the week when you will have to defend option. Relying on sound strategies that have worked for other can set you up for success.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski and Comunity of Coaches Helping Coaches

P.S. Here’s a great resource of clinics packaged together that cover defending the option. Including are presentations from Coach Luvara, Coach Gaylor, and Coach Vaughn. Defend the Option bundle will help to get you ready to stop the option.