ASU Football: Sun Devils Prep for Option Football
By Mike Slifer
The ASU football team travels to Albuquerque this weekend to take on the University of New Mexico. That team, coached by Bob Davie, the former Notre Dame head coach, runs a triple option offense.
This could be a problem for ASU. Not so much because the option is unstoppable, but because it’s different. Most of ASU’s roster comes from the west coast. Most of the west coast high schools run a spread type offense. For many of the defensive players, it will be the first time they’ve seen true tread triple option.
On paper, the triple option doesn’t seem that hard to defend. Inside defenders take the dive, perimeter defenders take QB and pitch man. However, it’s never that simple.
The whole concept of triple option is that there are in fact three options during the play. On a conventional run play, the whole offensive unit will run and block towards the point of attack. It’s not difficult for the defense to read that. In triple option, they’re blocking for and running to 3 different points of attack. This means that the defensive players cannot “gang up” at any one point of attack, they must defend all three. So, if one defensive player with a specific assignment “gets greedy” and tries to help out somewhere else, it could result in a big play. Perhaps even a touchdown.
For example, an inside linebacker cannot assume the dive man doesn’t have the ball and vacate the area to help out on pitch. If he does so, he risks running right by the ball carrier and looking foolish. Likewise, an unblocked defensive end who is supposed to take the quarterback cannot get cute and chase down the pitch man. Every defensive player is counting on their teammates doing their own job, while they do theirs.
This is why coaches talk about “assignment football” when playing true read option. Some coaches actually prepare for option by having the scout team run that offense without a ball. Oddly enough, it makes players just read the movement instead of trying to find the ball and make a play. It forces them to just do their job. Devils in Detail doesn’t know if coach Graham will employ that tactic in practice or not.
One thing to note, coach Graham came up as a high school coach in Texas. While he was there, high school teams were still running true read triple option. Undoubtedly, coach Graham had to prepare his team for option plenty of times. In fact, two years ago, ASU had to face an option team in Navy for their bowl game.
The only wrinkle is that New Mexico runs this option from the shotgun. It changes the angles a little bit. It also allows New Mexico to throw the ball more than a typical option team. The ASU defense will have to be on guard for play-action pass. Again, the defensive backs can’t get greedy and try to do someone else’s job.
In all likelihood, this shouldn’t be a problem for ASU. Coach Graham is fanatical about discipline. His players have embraced that. New Mexico might burn the Sun Devils for a few big plays, but don’t count on them absolutely fooling ASU and stealing a victory against the Sun Devils. However, it will still be fun to see how this young defense adjusts and handles this new look.