Philosophy of the I-Bone Option Attack Offense

by Joey Lozano

Option football has always been an exciting and explosive form of the game. With each option play, the possibility of a long gain or touchdown is present.Option-style football reached its highest peak during the late sixties and seventies with the Wishbone and Veer attacks. These option attacks generated more yardage per game than any other previously used offensive schemes. In time, however, defenses began to lessen the productivity of the Wishbone and Veer. Smart defensive coaches diagnosed the weakest link in each individual attack and simply shut off its strength. In many cases, this involved rotation or inversion of the defensive backfield and “crashing” the cornerbacks. Because a talented running back is limited to unidirectional option potential in both the Wishbone and Veer, teams without a completely solid backfield became easy to defense.

Lack of passing capability from Wishbone sets make seven- and nine-man fronts common. Breaking the ‘bone simply telegraphed the pass. While the Veer provides adequate passing potential, versatility and deception are limited by the lonely two-back set.

As defensive football progressed in both player size and complexity, offensive coaches countered with pro-type sets and an increased dependence on the passing game. Thus, football has now become a boring game of finesse and field position.

Needed is an offense that puts the offensive team back in the driver’s seat and the pressure back onto the defense, where it belongs. Needed is an offensive scheme that creates its own deception and has innate versatility. We need an offense that allows an exceptional back to possess multi-directional option and sweep capability. Finally, we need an offensive concept that provides a receiver out of the backfield for pass capability without lessening the threat of the running play. Such is the logic leading to the creation of the I-Bone concept.

The I-Bone does indeed fill each of the needs listed above. The I-Bone set provides for Wishbone, Veer, and I set options, all from one offensive set.It also provides a unique approach to I and Power-I plays. Thus, offensive pressure can be maintained on the corners, the defensive middle, and the secondary. The I-Bone is designed to provide for quick attack of the line of scrimmage, simulating the Veer in this respect. Its options, dives, counters and sweeps should develop more quickly than similar plays in either the I or Wishbone sets. The freeze option, one of the newer developments in option football, also can be utilized from the I-Bone, as can certain aspects of the Wing-T.

Passing can become a major weapon on every down, because all pass plays can have third receiver capability without lessening the threat of the run. An exceptional runningback also can be utilized from the I-Bone to attack either side of the defense from both option plays and sweeps. Of course, such a back also is constant middle threat.

Motion is an integral part of the I-Bone concept, but it is not a requirement for any of the option plays. When used, motion may be functional (such as when the motion man is a lead blocker or receiver) or deceptive (when the motion man is a decoy). Either the halfback, fullback or tailback may go in motion, depending on the desired effect.

Diagram 1 – the unique I-Bone set. While noting its innate simplicity and similarity to the Power-I, keep in mind that the set is simply the ultra structure of a unique offensive concept in option football.

THE MULTIPLE I-BONE OFFENSIVE PACKAGE

The I-Bone is a four-back attack with a split end. The basic formation is the full-house set as illustrated in Diagram 1. The fullback aligns himself so that his heels are three yards from the ball. The halfback aligns either directly behind the offensive guard or straddling the guard’s outside foot, about four yards from the ball. The tailback is directly behind the fullback, from five and one-half to seven yards away from the ball. Any of these alignments may be adjusted either forward or backward, depending on factors such as individual quickness or speed of the running backs. The quarterback always lines up directly behind the center’s tail so that he can take the snap.

The following diagrams illustrate the I-Bone’s triple option plays. One set of blocking rules is used on all triple option plays, regardless of who the
diveback and pitchback are.

The I-Bone I Triple Option:

The Wishbone Triple Option

The Inside Houston Veer Triple Option:

The Outside Houston Veer Triple Option:

Each option series also features counter-option plays, as well as complementary non-option running plays designed to capitalize on the defense’s reaction to the triple-option play action. In addition, the I-Bone includes a play-action passing attack that also works off the play action of each triple-option series.

These are only a few of the many plays available from the I-Bone formation. More information is available from my first book, “Coaching the I-Bone
Option Attack Offense,” published earlier this year by Coaches Choice.

This article was written by Joey Lozano. Lozano is a former writer, editor, and spokesman for the Texas Education Agency and a former journalist for the Seguin Gazette, Arlington Citizen-Journal, and Corpus Christi Caller-Times newspapers. He has also been a Guest Contributor to Option Central – www.optioncentral.net, an Option Football web site. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Texas and has more than 30 years of combined experience in journalism and public
relations. “Coaching the I-Bone Option Attack Offense” is available from Coaches Choice at www.coacheschoice.com/p-2812-coaching-the-i-bone-option-attack-offense.aspx or by calling 1-888-229-5745. The book is also available on Amazon.com