Inside the Option: Maximizing its Effectiveness and Keys to Defending it

The triple option offense has grown in popularity in recent years, with coaches appreciating the difficult adjustments that the option forces on a defense. We talked to three coaches who have had success running the option, and one who has had success defending it. On the offensive side, we spoke to Paul Johnson, head coach of Navy; Chuck Petersen, offensive coordinator at Air Force; and Mike Sewak, former coach at Georgia Southern. On the defensive side, Al Seamonson, outside linebacker coach at University of Maryland, gave us the keys to defending the option. You have many options in running the option. Johnson uses the triple option as a base. But he’ll deploy seven to eight variations, including the mid-line, counter, trap, speed and belly. Like any other offense, the option all boils down to execution, he stresses. “If you execute, it’s good. If not, then it’s not very