Travis Foster, Head Coach, Shadow Ridge HS, NV believes that his flexbone triple option system gives him the following advantages:
- Blocking Angles
- Puts Defenders in conflict
- Forces Defense to play assignment football
- Neutralize a dominant defender
- Allows you to compete against bigger players up front
- No one else is doing it
- Uses the whole field - Scout team disaster
- Forces Defense to play balanced - Options can be run to both sides
- Threat of the play action
The Youtube video below is a portion of his Glazier Drive online clinic: Flexbone Triple Option: Alignment, Assignment, & Execution of Inside Veer, & Outside Veer vs. Various Fronts
This video breaks down the fundamental concepts of veer blocking in the flexbone offense, particularly focusing on how it helps teams neutralize size disadvantages. Here are the key points:
Core Concept
- The primary goal is to put a defender on the line of scrimmage in conflict by leaving him unblocked and making him wrong regardless of his decision
- Whether the defender squeezes down (QB pulls) or runs upfield (hand off underneath), the offense exploits his decision
Offensive Line Rules
- Playside tackle: Down block, double team, or veer block based on defensive alignment
- Playside guard: Primarily executes double teams (noted as a good position for a weaker lineman)
- Center: Blocks A-gap defenders on either play side or backside
- Backside guard: Doubles or blocks backside linebacker
- Backside tackle: Runs hard through B-gap to reach backside linebacker
Double Teams
- Emphasized as a priority on every play
- Dictated by defensive alignment
- Focus on getting double teams in B-gap and on center whenever possible
Perimeter Blocking
- Playside wide receiver: Blocks the corner or deep defender
- Playside A-back:
- Against two high safeties: "Sweeps the alley" with specific footwork
- Against one high safety: Uses "load scheme" to seal inside and account for extra box defender
- Backside wide receiver: Cuts off backside safety or corner
Adjustments Based on Safety Alignment
- Two high safeties: Indicates 7-man box that can be accounted for without A-back help inside
- One high safety: Indicates 8-man box requiring A-back to help inside as an "adjuster"
Coach Foster emphasizes simplicity in assignments to allow players to "play fast" without overthinking while providing specific techniques for creating leverage against larger defenders.
