Installing The Mechanics for Load, Lead, and

Speed Options Part 1

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This is the 1st part of Installing The Mechanics for Load, Lead, and Speed Options.  Part 2 will be on the site on
Monday January 23 2017.

The Load, Lead, and Speed options are double options designed to take advantage of defenses reducing their fronts
in order to defend the inside running game, goal line and short yardage situations. The 18 – 19 series options are
double options between the quarterback and pitchman, with 18 and 19 options it will either be a keep by the
quarterback or a pitch to a running back. 18 – 19 Options are designed to put immediate pressure on the perimeter of
the defense. The double option schemes provides an outstanding running situation for slowing down blitz situations.
Outside option plays makes the defense have to defend both the quarterback and pitch in option situations, this
forces defenses from attacking you with whole sell blitz’s. The 18 – 19 series options complements the midline and
inside veer schemes when defenses start to reduce in order to defend these two options. Whenever a defense reduces
it starts to remove players from the perimeter thus, setting up the 18 – 19 option schemes.

As the load option is taught to our players they learn that whenever the load scheme is used it tells the offensive
linemen to fast zone their blocking schemes, this means to bring their hips and feet around fast to compensate for
fast flowing linebackers scraping to the play. The following information will give you the needed information for our
quarterback mechanics.

Our quarterback upon receiving the snap from center will step with his backside foot at a 45 degree angle, which sets
up his pitch relationship for a possible quick pitch with his pitch back. The quarterback’s second step is with his
playside foot stepping back at a 45 degree angle until both feet are underneath the quarterback once again. The third
step by the quarterback is with his inside foot, stepping downhill at the read defender or nine technique. As with the
other options mentioned previously the quarterback must stay downhill with his path. Quarterback on his third step
should flash the football back as if to hand the ball off to hold the linebackers inside, this helps to set
the combination blocks up and helps the trey and or deuce combos to wall the playside linebacker off.

Once the quarterback flashes the football on his third and fourth step he then should get the ball to his third hand.
When running a double option with your quarterback get him downhill running at the inside jersey number of the
nine technique. If the quarterback gets a pitch read he should do so by screwing his thumb to the ground. What is
meant by screwing your thumb to the ground, is when the quarterback pitches the ball his thumb should not follow
the pitch towards the pitchman, this drifts the quarterback towards the pitchman thus, allowing the pitch defender to
play both the quarterback and the pitchman. The thumb should stay pointed down at the ground which keeps the
quarterback from drifting towards the pitchman. When screwing the thumb to the ground technique is incorporated
into you quarterback mechanics it will keep the pitch defender from slow playing the double option.

By stepping the quarterback off the line of scrimmage at a 45 degree angle with the backside foot will help in getting
your pitchman in a faster pitch relationship with his quarterback. When running load or speed option into the
openside the perimeter has been shorten thus, giving the pitch defender a shorter line to the quarterback if he decides
to take the quarterback as his option responsibility.

Installing Load (Lead), Block, Speed Options

In example number 1, you see the load option being run at a five and nine combination or a 13 tight defensive front.
This defense is a good situation for 18 or 19 Load option because of the trey combination between the tackle and
tight end. By being able to block down with the tackle and tight end you can restrict the flow of the linebackers and
the play will never stretch thus, giving you more grass to run on outside.
By running load option into this defensive front you get two combos one by the tackle and tight end (trey) and the
other by the guard and center (ace). By creating two combos to the playside you create less of an opportunity for
upfield penetration by the defensive linemen.

Load option is a great play in short yardage and goal line situations because of the reduced fronts. In illustration
number 2 we only get a trey combo to the callside thus giving a possible mismatch between the guard and defensive
tackle over him.
Upfield penetration from this position throws the path of the quarterback off and makes him bubble his path. Vs this
type of defensive front you are better off running midline or inside veer options.

On the snap of the football the quarterback will take a down hill path running at the inside jersey number of the nine
technique. If the inside jersey number goes upfield then the nine technique is playing the pitch, so stay inside the
read key. If the nine techniques inside jersey number comes down and inside it means he is playing the quarterback
so the quarterback will pitch the football.
When playing with two backs and the fullback becomes the lead back the quarterback will get in behind his back for
proper path. If the fullback can get inside the nine technique then the quarterback should follow him. If the nine
technique plays down and inside then the fullback will take his path outside with the quarterback pitching the
football to the pitch back.

Part 2 will be posted Monday January 23, 2017

About the Author of this post:

Jerry Campbell has over 30 years of high school and college coaching experience. He has experience as a head
coach, offensive coordinator, and various position coaches. He has written numerous football coaching articles in
various publications, is the author of over 30 books on coaching football, and has produced 12 coaching video series.
Additionally, he is a nationally sought after speaker on the coaching clinic circuit.