| Triple option football has all three elements of the | | | | The quarterback has much responsibility in triple |
| different styles of running attacks - quickness, | | | | option football. He must first make sure there is |
| finesse and power. | | | | no confusion with his first option (whether to |
| Homer Rice is given credit for inventing triple | | | | handoff to the fullback or not) in order to prevent |
| option football. He retired as Georgia Tech's | | | | a fumble. He must also make a good pitchout to |
| athletic director in 1997. Before that, he was head | | | | his halfback. Further complications can arise if the |
| coach at Kentucky, Oklahoma, Cincinnati and Rice. | | | | QB makes the wrong read on the defensive |
| Mr. Rice also worked as athletic director at Rice | | | | tackle or end. |
| and North Carolina as well as a brief stint as head | | | | Here's one way to teach the quarterback to read |
| coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. | | | | the end - If he can see the end's number, he |
| But it was when he was coaching high school in | | | | should pitch the football as the end is probably |
| the 1950's that he came up with triple option | | | | coming in to tackle him. If he sees the end |
| football. The two usual triple option styles are the | | | | coming across the line of scrimmage focusing on |
| wishbone and veer. | | | | the halfback, the QB should keep the ball. The |
| The main idea behind this offensive set is to leave | | | | quarterback should also keep an out for further |
| the defensive tackle and end unblocked in order | | | | pitch opportunities to his halfback even as he's |
| to double-team the linebackers with extra | | | | making his way downfield. |
| offensive lineman. This brings an element of | | | | The "Veer" style of triple option football adds a |
| power to this basically finesse type of running | | | | passing element. Bill Yeoman invented the veer in |
| attack. | | | | 1965 as coach of the Houston Cougars. That's |
| The "Wishbone" style of triple option football gets | | | | why you'll hear it also called the "Houston Veer". |
| its name from the alignment of the backs. You | | | | Yeoman replaced the fullback with a wide |
| have a quarterback, a fullback directly behind him | | | | receiver and split out an end. |
| and then two halfbacks split behind the fullback. | | | | Now the QB's first option is to a diving halfback |
| At the snap, the quarterback turns and puts the | | | | (no fullback). The pitchout option then goes to the |
| football in the fullback's gut as he reads the | | | | other halfback in the set. The tight end helps get |
| defensive tackle. | | | | the defensive end wide by taking a wide split. At |
| If the QB sees the tackle taking outside | | | | the snap, the tight end arcs around the end |
| responsibility, he hands off to the fullback. If the | | | | (remember, the end is left unblocked) to block |
| tackle takes inside position, the QB keeps the ball | | | | anyone trying to tackle the quarterback (usually a |
| and the fullback blocks the tackle. Now the | | | | safety). The wide-out takes on the cornerback. |
| quarterback's attention turns to the defensive | | | | Looking for finesse, power and quickness? Try |
| end. If the end comes in to tackle him, he pitches | | | | using triple option football. |
| out to the halfback who is trailing behind the play. | | | | |
