MULTIPLE GUN OPTION SERIES: INSTALLING THE ZONE READ AND THE

ZONE TRIPLE OPTION

BRIAN DEFILLIPPO-OC @ MICHIGAN HS
I.

II.

III.

IV.

Offensive philosophy
A. Be a complete offense
1. Be prepared for all situations
2. Be simple but difficult to defend
3. Master a select # of blocking schemes
B. Keep your OL & QB in mind when designing your system
C. Use motion and shifting to create advantages
D. Read the defender that you cant block=Option Football
E. Be unique
F. Have a flexible system that allows quick and easy adjustments to solve
problems
Personnel Groupings
A. 10 Personnel-2x2, 3x1,3x2,4x1
B. 11 Personnel-2x2,3x1,3x2,4x1
C. Supplemental Formations-Bunch, power I, 2 back gun, wishbone, H
backs, I form, unbalanced, tricks
Situations to prepare for
A. 2 minute
B. 4 minute
C. Come from behind
D. Blitz & pressure
E. Short yardage & goaline
F. 3rd & long
G. Weather
Offensive components
A. Option-zone read, zone triple, midline, veer, etc
B. Play Action pass
C. misdirection
D. Speed Sweep
E. Draws/screens
F. multiple launch points
G. quick game
H. deeper/longer developing pass concepts

V. Formations
A. 2x2 w/10 Personnel- Ace & Solo: Ace is with the slots off the LOS and
Solo is the Y & Z
switch spots w/ the Y still on the LOS.
B. 3x1 w/10 Personnel- Trips, Troop, Rip/Liz: Trips w/ H & Z in the slots and
X and Y on. Troop switched the Y and Z w/the Y still on the LOS. Rip/Liz is
the same as Troop except the H is a wing next the tackle.
C. 3x2 w/10 Personnel-Arrow, Trigger, Ghost: Arrow puts the RB to the left
in the slot as #3, Ghost puts the RB in the slot to the right as #3 and

Trigger puts the RB to the slot on the left as #2 with trips on the opposite
side.
D. 2x2 w/11 personnel-Spread & Titan: Spread puts Y as TE to rt w/ Z off
the line split out wide rt. Titan is the same except the X is the weakside
slot(on the LOS) and the H is split out wide left off the LOS.
E. 3x1 w/11 personnel-Trey & Trick: Trey has the Y as the TE to the rt with
H as #2 and Z as #1. Trick has the Y as TE to the rt with all 3 WRs to the
left.
F. 3x2 w/11 personnel-Thunder, Ghost, & Spear: Thunder has Y as TE to
the rt w/RB as #2 in the slot to the left with a trips formation to the rt.
Ghost has the RB as #2 to the rt with Y as TE to the rt. Spear has Y as TE
to the rt with Z as #1 and trips left w/the RB as #3.
VI. Motion Calls
A.
B.
C.
D.

Hack, Zack, Tack

Hong, Tong, Zong
Hum, Zoom, Yum
Hag, Zag, Yag

VII. 12/13 Read & Triple Option

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

G.

H.

Base Run play-uses Inside Zone blocking

OL blocks PSG to LBextensive drill work w/OL
QB reads C gap defender.
RB must pause & not be in a hurry to mesh w/QB. This allows QB to catch
snap (make sure QB has snap before starting footwork)
WRs must block w/PS technique
Advantages
1. Mix of power and option concepts
2. Can block multiple fronts
3. Allows you to read a defender you cant block
4. Triple option allows you to pitch off of apex player or inverted safety
5. Can be split flow play which slows down alley free safeties
6. Keeps defense simple
7. Should decrease blitzing & man coverage
8. Easy mesh read, Qb can attack downhill when pulling the ball
Important concepts
1. Must throw bubble when uncovered and defense cheats inside
2. Can always use a TE to block 4 PS gaps
3. 3 vs 3 BS concept to account for thiefs
4. Need Odd front blocking class
5. Use slots as ball carriers in read game
Backfield Mechanics
1.QB aligns w/ heels @ 5yds.
2. TB toes @ 6 yds. Align in center of the B gap.
3. QB drop steps w/near foot to RB, sets at 45 0 angle for mesh. Extend ball
w/eyes on read key.

4. RB must pause to ensure snap, he will lean, crossover and track & press
for outside leg of PSG.
5. RB responsible for mesh, dont be in a hurry!
6. QB thinks give unless read is flat and fast.
7. QB always give vs 2 off of the edge.
10 PERSONNEL-2X2

IF DE TIGHTENS ALIGNMENT TACKLE

CAN GIVE CALL TO GUARD TO BE
AWARE OF STUNT. SIMILAR TO GANG
CALL FROM ZONE READ STUDY
NOTES.

11 PERSONNEL VS UNDER FRONT-2X2

10 PERSONNEL-3X1

11 PERSONNEL-3X1

11 PERSONNEL-3X2 SPEAR LT ZONG 13 READ

THUNDER RT HONG 12 READ

RB

I.

Odd Front Adjustments

1. VS odd front BSG will make an uncovered call-this tells BST to fan block
outside defender
2. QB reads the 4i/4 tech
3. Play becomes almost a midline option vs odd front

11 PERSONNEL-13 READ

10 PERSONNEL-HACK MOTION-12 READ

R
J.

3 OVER 3 CONCEPT
1. RULE USED TO TEACH THE #3 WR who to block on the Inside Zone Read.
2. #3 WR looks to ILB 1st then to safety
3. VS odd front he will go opposite the tackles block-if tackle fans out on
DE/OLB #3 goes underneath. If tackle blocks head up then #3 stays
outside

VIII. Inside Zone Read Triple Option

A. RB and Slots can be both Zone Runner and Pitch Player
B. Offers Flexibility and Multiplicity
C. Option concepts should result in fewer fronts, blitzing and man
coverage
D. Carry over from Zone Read makes it easy to execute
E. 1st defender outside the read key is pitch key
F. QB will attack the inside shoulder of the pitch key
G. Variations1. 12/13 H, 12/13 Z, 12/13 T: Letter =Pitch Player.
2. Can run it to 1 stand up or 2 stand up WRs
3. Flip Concept-Motion player runs the zone
4. No motion backpedal
5. 2 back zone triple
6. Use bunch formations
10 PERSONNEL-HACK 13 H

#1

#1

10 PERSONNEL VS 1 HI DEFENSE

#
2

10 PERSONNEL-SLOT AS ZONE RUNNER:HACK 12 T

#2
#1

ZAK 13 T
#2
#1

NO MOTION BACKPEDAL ON THE SNAP-13 Z

#2
#1

IX. Drilling Zone Read and Zone Triple

A.
B.
C.
D.

Daily Period for QBs, RBs, and Slots

All players rotate and serve as scout defenders
Work on all phases of read and pitch vs any defensive look
Additional practice is achieved during inside run period and various
team periods
E. Work on mesh reads, pitch reads, pitch relationship and perimeter
blocking

ZONE READ DRILL

QB

RB

F. One QB is the Center while the other takes the snap and works on
mesh and read
G. One RB is the read key while the other works on mesh.
H. Can do the drill for any gap read(midline, veer, IZ)
I. Can incorporate different motions into drill
J. Can use slots as well.(slots would serve as pitch read in the drill)
K. Can work Jet motion( RB switches from one side of QB to next
before the snap)
L. This is a rapid fire drill and should be able to work reads from both
sides and get a ton of reps. About 15 mins a day early in the
season and reduced down to 10 or so as the season goes along.
M. Can also include a coach with a handshield to use as a read for the
RB. Rb would cut opposite of where the coach steps w/shield.