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The full text of “Isolation Option Concept” by Stan Zeifel and Miles Hookstead, from the Vol 2 — Spring 2024 issue.
Page 22By: Miles Hookstead (University of Dubuque / Offensive Coordinator) and Stan Zweifel (Ret.) The Option Concept is a great way to get our playmakers into one on one isolations that are quickly developing and in the open field. The scheme allows you to pinpoint any player at any position on the field to get a favorable matchup with the defense. You can move guys around formationally, with motions or personnel groupings but the rules stay the same all the time which makes the play a quick learn for any player.
The Option Concept also takes pressure off of the pass protection scheme as it is just another form of the quick throw game. The play consists of three aspects: Low Option at 5 yards depth and ⅔ of the field to work; High Option at 10 yards depth and ⅓ of the field to work; Fade/Slot Fade. Low Option: This will be the tagged option. The receiver will get up to 5 yards depth while working a stem to attack the leverage of the defense. Once at 5 yards, the de - cision to sit, break out or break in will be made.
(If the Option is an outside WR, did not give the option to break out). They can continue the route and use ⅔ of the field to get open. High Option: This will be the first Receiver opposite the center from the Low Option. The receiver will get up to 10 yards depth while working a stem to attack the leverage of the defense. Once at 10 yards, the decision to sit, break out or break in will be made. (If the Option is an outside WR, did not give the option to break out).
They can continue the route and use ⅓ of the field to get open. Isolation Option Concept Isolation Option Concept
Page 23Fade/Slot Fade: The other receivers will have Fades/Slot Fades. Clear down the field at a sprint to take the coverage off the top. If the receiver is aligned outside, the Fade is called a Mandatory Outside Release (MOR). The responsibility of the MOR is to soften up the flat defender. If the receiver is aligned inside, the Fade is called a Slot Fade. Clear the second level defenders and run to green grass at the third level. QB Read: Read the release of the receiver.
Take a screenshot of the defense pre snap and throw the ball to the Low Option. Allow time for the receiver to get to 5 yards depth and work their stem. Deliver the ball on the break. If the Low Option is taken away, come off to the High Option. Read the High Option just like you did the Low Option. If you get a true one on one match up from any of the Fades or Slot Fades, take the shot. Basic look at the rules of the play. The slot WR would be the tagged option in the play call.
The TE is the first receiver opposite the slot WR, past the center. The two outside WRs would have MORs.
Page 24The QB is reading the route and stem of the Slot WR. Throw the ball on the break of that receiver’s route. The Slot WR can break in, break out or sit down. Second read is the TE on the High Option. The QB can take a shot over the top with either MOR if he has a good match up.
Page 25The TE has the tagged option in this look. The TE can break in, break out or sit down. The Slot WR takes the role of the High Option and the outside guys still have MORs. An outside WR has the Low Option tag. They only have two options to either sit down
Page 2626 on a hitch or break inside. The TE would run a Slot Fade here. Job is to attach 2nd level defenders and run to green grass at the 3rd level.
Page 27First 3x1 look. TE has the Low Option tag and has the three ways to break (in, out or sit). An adjustment is made with 2 fades on the same side. The outside fade still runs the MOR or Slot Fade (depending on alignment) and the inside fade runs to the opposite upright of the goal post. The High Option can only sit or break inside in this picture being an outside aligned WR.
Page 28Great way to run the Low Option with a solo WR backside. Forces defenses to be more balanced in 3x1 sets. Since the X is an outside WR, can only sit or break inside. Tell your Slot WR to get to the far upright best way possible without interfering with the High Option. This can be a challenge. Low Option to an outside WR. The only options are sit or break inside. The High Option can only sit or break inside as well with being an outside WR. Two fades next to each so the inside receiver has to get to the far upright.
Good look at a Slot Fade in this picture. Miles Hookstead has been in college football coaching for 12 years. His time on the staff has been spent coaching the Offensive Line (2013), Wide Receivers (2014-2015, 2018-2021), Running Backs (2016-2017, 2022-2023), Defen - sive Line (Spring 2019) and Tight Ends (Spring 2022, Spring 2024). He was named Offensive Coordinator in 2021. During his tenure, Hookstead coached multiple All-Conference selections along with All-Region and All-American recognitions.
Under his coaching guidance, former and current players have cracked into the Top 10 of numerous statistical categories throughout the UD Record Book. Hookstead is a 2013 graduate of the University of Dubuque (Bachelors) and a 2018 graduate of Upper Iowa University (Masters). Hookstead is a 2022 UD Athletic Hall of Fame inductee (Individual) and a 2023 UD Athletic Hall of Fame inductee (Team).
Page 29When getting reps during practice, one drill can work any of the inside options and another can work all of the outside options which will make practice time more efficient and effective. The Option Game is a com - bination of Hitch routes, Out routes, In routes and Fades all wrapped into one play. This is a great scheme to use along with your Quick Throw Game to give the receivers and quarterback the freedom and ability to beat any coverage.
As you can see, this one play becomes a whole playbook of plays as you start to change formations and tag different receivers. Stan Zweifel joined University of Dubuque in December 2008. Under his tenure, the Spartans won the 2011 and 2015 Iowa Conference Championships, qualified for the 2011 and 2015 NCAA Division III Championships, and tied for second place in the Iowa Conference multiple times (2012, 2016, 2018).
Twice Zweifel was named Iowa Confer - ence Coach of the Year (2011, 2015) and was a finalist for the Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year (2011). Prior to joining the Spartans as head coach, Zweifel was the assistant head coach/offensive coordinator at Minnesota State University-Mankato where he helped lead the Mavericks to a 9-3 season in 2008, an NSIC-South Division Championship, and a berth in the 2008 NCAA Division II Football Championships.
Prior to being a member of the Maverick coaching staff, Zweifel was the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for 16 seasons. During that time, the Warhawks enjoyed unparalleled success. They won six WIAC Championships and played in 12 NCAA Division III playoff games. Those culminated into two NCAA Division III National Championship games in 2005 and 2006.
