Ferrum's Rushing Offense-One of the Best in the Country

If you know anything about Ferrum College football, you know that their offense is centered around the running game. For years now, Ferrum's offense has run its mainstay option style attack. While I will not get into the complexities of the offense, or try too hard to describe the formation, it is primarily based off of the old wishbone formation that was made popular by University of Texas in the late 1960's. The true wishbone is sometimes used by Ferrum, but variations have developed over the years that will give the basic set different looks, while assuring the offense solid results. Ferrum utilizes many of these variations. The Veer is one along with another formation called the Flexbone, and even the basic "I" formation can be used to execute the option.
Coach Dave Harper will be entering his eleventh year as the offensive coordinator for Ferrum. In those years, Ferrum has had a consistently strong offense. While I do not know statistics for all of the ten previous seasons, I do know that in at least five of those years, Ferrum's rushing offense has been ranked in the top 10 nationally.

So what makes the option style offense Ferrum's bread and butter rather than a pound it up the middle "five yards in a cloud of dust" offense? I would say the option style offense is advantageous to teams that may not have the largest offensive line. This offense is helped by speed, rather than strength.

The Quarterback must have good field vision, and be able to make a quick determination on whether to give the ball to the fullback, pitch the ball to the halfback, or keep it himself (those are the QB's three options)

Option 1- Give to the fullback. This is most like a smash mouth type of attack. What makes this successful, is that the defense may be cheating to the outside anticipating the other two options.(QB, or HB) This may allow more running room inside.

Option 2 - QB Keeps. After faking the hand off to the FB, the QB will move laterally and watch the defensive pursuit. If the defense strings out laterally to key on the halfback, the QB will turn the ball up field and keep it himself. If however the defense keys on the quarterback, we go to the third option.

Option 3-Pitch to halfback. This is used when the QB feels that the defense has keyed on the quarterback keeping the ball. If defensive pursuit is aimed at the QB, he will pitch it out to the half back.

This does not begin to describe anything but the basic premise of the triple option. As I said, there are many variations, and multiple formations that it can be run from. What I know is that it works, and with the right personnel, can lead a team to impressive offensive numbers. Ferrum has been proving that for years.

With Quintel Banks, and Mike Vann returning, its a safe bet that this attack will again rank Ferrum high in the national statistics. Who will play quarterback this season is possibly still a question mark for Ferrum, but a source with Ferrum indicated that during spring practice, there was reason to be optimistic. Who ever steps up behind center, will have a strong backfield behind them, a coaching staff that will teach them all of the intricacies of the offense, and lots of options for success....well at least three.

To view video of the triple option, click the link below:


Triple Option Examples