Air Option Offensive System 40-1

40. AIR OPTION OFFENSIVE

SYSTEM

41. Offensive Organization

42. Running Game
43. Passing Game
44. Offensive Fundamentals
45. Offensive Game Plan

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TOTAL OFFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY

As with most offensive systems, our basic philosophy is to be a ball

control team. We want to be able to achieve this by executing a few
simple ideas to perfection. With multiple formations and motions, we
give our opponents many things to defend, while our players have a
fairly simple system to grasp. Depending on the personnel available,
we can be as conservative or wide-open as we wish. Obviously, we
would like to be as balanced as possible.

Principles of the Total Offense

Our Offense will present a balanced run-pass threat to the defense,

giving the defense a diversity of offense to defend and respect the
football.

1. Our Offense Presents a Balanced Run-Pass Threat to the

Defense

Take what our opponent gives us but control what we get with a
balanced offense.

A. We will be efficient in both the running and passing game

keeping the defense from gang up on one area or the other in
each down and distance situation.
B. The Running Game is the key to developing a complementary
and equally successful passing game.

1. We will operate our running game under center or from a

gun.
2. We will have play action variations off each run play.

C. We run offensive schemes built into sets of series.

D. We strive for a balance of:

1. 60-40 Run/Pass Ratio

2. 60-40 Right/Left Ratio
3. 60-40 Strong/Weak Ratio
4. 60-40 Wide/Short Ratio

Characteristics of a Balanced Offense

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Given the emphasis in achieving offensive balance, it’s important

to know what factors characterize a balanced offense. In that
regard, the following parameters are essential:

• To be able to run from a pass set and to pass from a run set.
• To be able to run versus a pass defense and to pass versus a
run defense.
• To be able to run in run situations and to pass in pass
situations.
• To be able to run with finesse and power.
• To spread the ball to all skill players and make every skill
player a threat.
• To have multiple formations and movement.
• To be simple and use crossover techniques, while giving the
appearance of being complex.

Advantages of a Balanced Offense

• The defense must defend the entire field.

• The offense is relative adaptable to all situations, including:

 Clock control
 Down-and-Distance
 Field Position
 Personnel
 Weather

• A balanced attack affords a degree of flexibility that allows

the offense to adapt instantly.
• The defense is forced to stay balanced
• Such an attack gets more players involved, yet still allows a
team to emphasize its best players.
• The offense is great for team morale.

2. Our Offense Gives the Defense a Diversity of Offense to

Defend

A. We will force the defense to cover all receivers or we will throw

uncovered.

Nothing will go further toward spreading the defense then the

knowledge that we will pass to an uncovered receiver at any
time.

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B. We will flood zones with one more man than they can defend,
because the defense can rush one more than we can block.
C. Option football philosophy is based on the use of all offensive
players on all plays.

1. We can make the defense play assignment football by

defending the option on every play.
2. The option helps our pass offense dramatically because of the
defensive structures to be faced.

D. Using Multiple Formations and Motions To Run The Same Option.

1. It reduces the amount of time the defense has to recognize

formations and remember tendencies.
2. It gives us a BIG PLAY POTENTIAL caused by misalignments or
mismatches created by the use of multiple formations,
personnel groupings, and motion.
3. Utilize motion with a purpose.

• We use motion to pair plays.

E. Tempo of the Game

We strive to control the intensity of the game and defensive

options with our no-huddle, two-minute, racehorse or slow down
offensive tempos.

1. No-Huddle—Plays called at the LOS

2. Two Minute—Plays scripted to run in two minute situations
taking what is given.
3. Racehorse—Plays called at one time run to the right and
left. A total of 4 plays run nonstop.
4. Slowdown—Utilizing a huddle and a full 35 seconds per
play.

These situations and plays in these situations are practiced each

week and stay fairly consistent with exception of the no-huddle
offense. Our no-huddle could be any play in our offense run at
any time.

F. Audible into the Best Play.

1. Each of our run schemes is capable of utilizing a check with

me system built into our cadence.
2. Also built into our cadence we use an audible system to
automatic check us out of a blitz situation

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3. Our QBs are taught to read five automatic checks at the

LOS based on down and distance and play called.

a. Front and coverage for paired plays, check with me

or to get proper pass keys. Our routes have man, 2 and 3
beaters.
b. No Free Safety. At this point we go to a prepared
route package if not already running a blitz beater scheme.
c. Blitz front or secondary overload.
d. 5 men in the box. We will go to 1 of 2 specific
plays.
e. 8 men in the box. We will check to pass in most
situations considering we virtually have one-on-one
coverage. We will call this from the sideline with a young
QB.

G. Situation sometimes requires any offense to have the capability

of big play potential.

1. Our staff believes to have this potential we must scheme it,

practice it and believe in it. We don’t gimmick plays. We
average throwing the deep ball one-in-four plays. What most
teams consider gimmicks we work into our offense and
practice routinely. We will throw out of our own end zone if
the situation calls for it.
2. Our players are taught that fourth down is a play to retain
possession of the ball and/or score. We will punt as a last
resort.

We will not allow the defense to tune in to one area without leaving
themselves vulnerable to one of our other components.

3. Our Offense Respects the Football

We will strive for excellence on offense, by eliminating the mental

errors. Our Percentage of Error must be 12% or less:

Fumbles + Interceptions + Penalties + Dropped Passes + Sacks

Total Plays

A. Turnovers

The football is the most precious commodity on the field.

1. The objective is to take the ball and keep it from the

opponent while advancing it into their end zone.

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2. In close football games, when the majority of the

statistics are equal, the winning team is often the one with
the fewest turnovers.

B. Penalties

1. Unnecessary penalties are basically the mark of an

undisciplined football team.
2. A certain amount of penalties will always occur during the
course of a football game or season: however, one
unnecessary penalty at a key point in a game may be the
critical difference.

Offensive Goals

1. Win the Game

2. Percentage of Error Below 12%
3. Score 66% red zone touchdowns.
4. 45% on 3rd down conversions.
5. 55% run efficient (4 yards a carry).
6. No Sacks
7. 60% Pass Completion
8. 24:00+ Time of Possession

We feel our best defense in when we have the ball. We therefore

strive to be a possession offense. We expect to put points on the
board with each possession and eat time off the clock.

9. 100% Team Above Self

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TOTAL OFFENSIVE SCHEME: GUN TRIPLE OPTION

1. The Benefits of the Gun Triple Option

A. If using a two-point, the offensive line can adjust their splits after
the defense lines up.
B. By being in two-points stances, the offensive line hides the FB,
making it difficult for the defense to find him.
C. The FB also has cutback possibilities, a factor which destroys
triple-option LB keys.
D. The secondary—in particular the FS—can’t tell the difference
between the run and the pass, because the line is already up in
two-point stances.

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Philosophy of Total Offensive Personnel

• Needs to be a good athlete with football smarts.

• Should have the ability to make pressure
Quarterba decisions.
ck • His most important ability should be that the other
players will play for him.
• We can adapt our offense to match his strengths.
• Best runner.
Running • Quickness to the hole and vision are the keys.
Back • Speed is important, but not top priority.
(R) • Cannot be a fumbler.
• Must be dependable.
• Needs to be a player who will block and can catch
Half Back the football
(H) • Must be football smart.
• If he is a strong runner, it’s a bonus.
• Best blocking tight end.
• Needs to be strong and smart.
Tight End
(Y) • Will be in game more than X.
• Will be used in the passing game, so good hands
are a plus.

Qualities of a Wide Receiver:

5. Recognize and read coverage (know weakness, strengths

in various coverage’s)
6. Take pride in running precise routes and blocking
7. KOA for all receiving positions whether you play that
position or not
8. Be sound in my individual technique in order to help the
team.
9. Have short memory on negative plays, but learn from
them.

Wing Back • Have the ability to beat man coverage but excel in
(W) finding holes in zone coverage.
• Must have ability to get a vertical/horizontal
stretch
• Know how to react in open space or zones
• Have ability to change responsibility when used in

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motion
• Understand the combo route philosophy
• Be a ball carrier on reverse and misdirection plays.
• Must be able to handle single (man) coverage and
get open by being physical with great get off.
Split End • Posses on the LOS and in route/blocking
(X) assignments.
• Powerful with the mentality of wanting the one-on-
one coverage

Offensive Line:

To play on the offensive line a player must posses that following

qualities:

1. Toughness

A. This is an aggressive position

B. We Are Hitters!

2. Intelligence

A. We must know and understand the entire

offensive play.
B. We must also know the assignments of the entire
line

3. Coachable

A. This position is a marriage of technique and aggression

B. We will overcome bigger and faster players with
aggression and great technique

• Leader of our offensive line

• Pacesetter of the group
• How he breaks the huddle sets the tone for the
entire offensive play.
• Physically he must have good quickness as he
Center must snap the ball and block.
• He must have enough strength to block shades
one-on-one and maintain contact.
• He must also know the entire blocking scheme for
a given play.
• Agility is more important than size in this case

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• Generally he is the biggest and strongest lineman.

• He must have enough strength to single block a DT
Right • He must have good enough feet to maintain one-
Guard on-one contact with outside shade players.
• Pass pro skills are needed but, not as vital as the
left guard.
• This is usually the better athlete of the two guards.
• He must have enough quickness to get out on
Left
double reads in our pass pro schemes.
Guard
• He must also have the ability to reach shade
players.
• Our tackles are the overall best athletes on the
line.
• They must have the ability to run and block in
Right open space.
Tackle • They must have enough size and quickness to
handle DE’s in pass pro and run situations.
• Our right side tackle is not as good a pass pro guy
as our left.
• This is where the best pass pro guy on our line
plays.
Left • Many times he doesn’t have a back to help him.
Tackle He also must protect the backside of our QB.
• He must have all the abilities of our right tackle,
but his pass pro skills are usually better.

Football Playbook
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