400 series - The Option Pass

In this series I shall talk about how we work the pass out of the option look.

In the option there is a diving back and a trailing back while the QB works his way down the LOS (Line of Scrimmage) See below:

418 Keep

However when we run the option pass we need to make it look like we are running the option until the very last opportunity. We will than drop back and throw a pass.

In our passing model (700, 800 and 900 series) we would normally tag the receivers with the routes that they would run. However out of the option we limit the patterns that the receivers would run.

When we refer to the receivers I would refer to them by the outside/In. So the #1 play side receiver would be the farthest receiver on the outside on the play side. Backside #1 would be the outside receiver on the backside. #2 receiver play side or backside would be the next inside receiver.

We have the receivers memorize what each would run for the play. That way the rule is always the same no matter what formation we would run out of. This shall be demonstrated later.

The rules are as follows:

PS #1 - Out

PS #2 - Flag

PS #3 - Post/Flag

BS #1 - Under

BS #2 - Post

BS #3 - Seam

If we are running the 418 option Pass out of a right formation the play would look like the following. (Remember that running the ball is always an option for the QB)

We can also run the same play out of a number of different formations. Here are a couple of examples:

Power Left 418 option pass

Pro Right 418 option pass

Red Rip 418 option pass

Right Slot 418 Option Pass

As you can see we can run this play out of many different formations. This holds true for all of the plays in our playbook. This makes it look like we are a lot more complicated than we really are. It will also force defences to try and prepare for so many different looks.

Even though I have mentioned so many different series already, I believe that if you master a few plays and run them out of a number of different formations you van still be very effective and win ball games. I have tried to simplify things for my players and coaches so that we can get down to the business of perfecting plays and doing what we love. PLAYING FOOTBALL

Coach D

Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication. - ROGER STAUBACH

400 Series - The Option (post 2)

In my previous post I introduced my 400 series, or other wise called the option. This series gives the look like we are or could run the option. This means that we will often have a trailing ball carrier behind the QB.

In the 400 series I am often telling the QB what I would like him to run. If I wanted him to give the ball to the F. I would say 42? give. If I wanted him to make the pitch I would call 43? pitch. I would even tell him if I wanted him to keep the ball 41? Keep. In each play it is vital to make it look like we are running the same play.Each Play is shown below

Right 426 Give

Right 418 Keep

Right 438 Pitch

If I truly wanted him to have him read the play I would call it as a 418/419 option. This tells the QB to make two reads in the same play. The QB would have to first read if the hand off to the F is available or not (would he be tackled right away), He would then come down the line and read the corner. If the corner comes up to make the tackle he would than pitch it to the R. Notice that the play side guard is also pulling and looking to pick up the end. If we have a strong penetrating LB or D-line we would keep him in to block. We would then read the end man on the LOS. The Corner would then become a down field read pitch/option if the QB kept the ball.

Right 418 Option

In my next post I shall talk about passing in the option - Coach D

You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a two-by-four. - DAN BIRDWELL

400 Series - The Option (post 1)

Over the years I have heard many coaches say that they either love the option or they hate the option. For me it is a love/hate relationship. I like to run the option but you have to have the right personnel. That means you have to have a quarterback that can think on his feet. If you try and run the option without the personnel you need than it can be disastrous.

I call my option series the 400 series. The only reason why I call it the 400 series is because when I was in high school the option was called the 40 series. So really no rationale behind it. The option is originally run as part of the veer but I, and several other coaches have adapted it to their offense. The option can be run out of numerous formations.

Out of the option the QB is moving down the line of scrimmage (LOS) and will either Fake or give the ball to the fullback diving through the hole. He will than continue down the line, read the end man on the LOS and decide either to keep the ball or pitch it to a trailing back. This is why the QB needs to be able to think on his feet. He has to make several reads on the same play.

The typical option would like like this:

Right 418 Option

Here is a video of Navy running the option out of a double wing formation

My next post shall be on other plays that I run out of the option series (400)

“Sure, luck means a lot in football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck.” – Don Shula

The 300 series - the sweep

The 300 series is a lot like the 200 series. The only real change up is instead of pulling both guards, you only pull the backside guard, the fullback will now be the lead kick out block.

I use the 300 series if we see a LB who likes to blitz or a strong penetrating nose or tackle. I would keep the play side guard in for extra protection and have the fullback as the kick out block.

Here is the 338 sweep

This same play can also be run in a power formation and run with the fullback. The QB can open away from the hole and toss or he can open to the hole and hand it off to the fullback.

Power Right 328 sweep

I also run a boot and a throw back in the 300 series. In the boot there is only 1 guard pulling. In the throw back whoever is the ball carrier is they would throw the ball back to the QB. He can than either run with the ball or throw it again. Here are both of those plays.

Pro Right 338 Boot

Right 338 Throw Back

If you can't remember what to do just hit someone - Coach D

My System vs Traditional Wing-t

To try to explain my play calling I thought I would compare it to the traditional Delaware wing-t. That way people may be able to grasp the evolution of why I do things the way that I do.

The traditional wing-t has many different formations. They number the hole from left to right, counting backwards. 9 is to the left and 1 is to the right. Looking like the following:

9 8 7 6 X 4 3 2 1

They way I number the holes are odd and even. 9 is on the left and 8 would be on the right. so my whole would look like this:

9 7 5 3X 2 4 6 8

Their formations would also fall in line with this thinking. 900 would be my left formation and 100 would be my right formation. So if a play is called it would be 121. Which would be a sweep to the left. (right formation, 20 series, to 8 hole)

In my system, I try to simplify things and make it more understandable. I would call right 238 sweep. Essentially saying the same thing. (Right formation, 200 series, 3 back to 8 hole.)

The reason why I do the odd and even holes and saying the formations is because that is what I grew up with in high school and first coaching the wing-t under Bob Timmerman at Dubuque Hempstead. They have been running the wing-t since the school has been in existence in the 1960's. Hempstead has had great success running the wing-t over the years. They have won several state titles and has been a visitor to the playoffs nearly every year.

When I moved away from the Dubque area I became more of a student of the Delaware wing-t. I became a Defensive coordinator at Des Moines Hoover under Joe Kuhn. Joe was just becoming the head coach there and was implementing the traditional wing-t. He brought me in to help the kids learn how to run the offense. When I interviewed for the position however he had already offered the offensive coordinator position to someone else. This first year at Hoover was exciting to watch. We only won one game that year but things were moving in the right direction. There were a couple of problems and to make a story short, Joe left the program and so did I. I really would have to liked to have seen how things would have gone for a second or third year there. (You can see highlights in a previous post)

I than became a head coach myself the following year. I had taken over a program that had not won a football game in 6 straight years. I knew with the wing-t, things could be turned around. Here I was torn between what I learned at Dubuque Hempstead and Des Moines Hoover. Do I want to go with a modified wing-t or do I want to go with the traditional ways. The first year I decided to run the Dubuqe Heampstead modified wing-t. We tied the school record for rushing, and we won our first game that year.

However many of the players and even several of my assistant coaches were confused by the system. When I tried to explain the traditional system to them in the off season they even got more confused. What I did than was modify the Heampstead wing-t and added the back number into the mix. When I did that the confusion problem seemed to be solved. I have also modified some other things since then but the basis is still the same. What I changed was my numbering of some of the series.

The next year I resigned as a head coach because of lack of support from the administration, But that is an entirely differnt and rather ugly story.

Here is how I number my series:

100 - QB run series
200- The buck series (previous posts)
300 - The buck series modified (Lead back block & backside Guard pulling)
400 - Option Series
500 - The lead series (One back leading through the hole)
600 - The Jet/Rocket series
700 - Three step passing
800 - five step passing
900 - Play Action Passing

My plan through out this next several posts is to explain each of these series. I have already explained the 200 series (the Buck series). The next series I shall explain shall be my 300 series.

Coach D

Watch for an update in a couple of days

two - Minute Offense

At one time or another every coach is going to need a two minute offense. We wish we may never have to use it because we would be way a head in a game, but most likely we will be in a situation were we have to use a two minute.

In a two minute we are forced to try and move the ball down the field as quick as we can. This means that we will have to pass quickly without the clock stopping. That means that the only time we can take use a huddle would be on the stop of the clock for and incomplete pass or getting out of bounds. (preferably the latter)


We have to be able to call our plays from the sideline and have the QB relay the play in on the go. For that reason I use one formation with two different types of motion. I call them Cub and Bear. I only use this because I am a Chicago Cub and Bear fan. When I was a head coach I would tweak the names to go along with the name of the school mascot or school colors or something like that.


Here are Cub and Bear in both Left and Right.

After we have worked on the formations and the motions I than will add in play sets. All I do is call the 1,2, or 3. The kids must learn what the patterns are for each. I would than call in the plays from the side line as Bear right/left and the number.


Hear are Bear 1,2,and 3






As you can see there are little subtleties with each play.



Cub plays also have little subtitles also


Part of our practices would focus on just practicing the two minute offense. First I would work with just the receivers and QBs making sure they know their routes. I would even have them take a written test making sure that they know the routes of both Cub and Bear. I would make sure they know all of the position routes because you never know what position they may have to be thrown into.


I would than make sure we practiced moving up and down the field with the entire unit, including linemen. This would show how this come together. First do this against dirt and then add a defense. Make sure you use a play clock and some sort of down markers. This will help simulate the necessity of game situations.


How do you run your Two minute Offense?


- Coach D

Is anyone Reading This Blog?

I have been looking back on my blog over my spring break trying to figure out what I should write about next. I have been a little preoccupied the last few days. We had an ultrasound done and found out that we will be having a baby girl in august.

While looking at my blog, I have begun to ponder and ask myself three questions. The first was I wonder if anyone is reading my blog? I look at my counter at the bottom of the page and it tells me that I have been having quite a few hits. That than lead me into my second question. Is the content of my blog worthwhile? Is what I am writing helping people out or are the visitors coming to my blog by mistake or is the information just boring and people are moving on?

I guess I would like to know if anyone is reading this blog and finds it worth while. Please someone respond to one of my posts and give me some kind of feedback. positive or negative, i don't really care. i just want to know if I am reaching people and if people are interested in my blog. I know that for people who are pretty proficcient in the wing-t that what i am blogging about is fairly basic information. But am I helping anyone out so far? Or even helping people ponder things?

That finally lead me to my last question. Why am i writing this blog. I am writing this as a way for me to try to assess my coaching and hone my skills. I know that may sound kind of ridiculous, but it helps me think things through for when I become a head coach again.

I know that this post may sound petty and self centered but I just want to know some other people's opinions. What do other people think about my blog? Do they like the setup? Do they like the topic? What do people think?