option quarterback – OptionFootball.net

Football Motivation: A Master Example

Navy Football team running on to the field carrying american flags. Football motivation at its best. — The service academies are steeped in college football tradition and it is still an awesome sight to see the Navy football team storm the field carrying American Flags. Photo from the U.S. Navy Flickr feed.

Football motivation. The idea is pervasive in football culture. There are videos, quotes, posters, and over 30 million results for the Google search. It’s also big on Twitter. There are also scholarly articles written on motivation and sport psychology.

Motivation is an integral aspect of any endeavor requiring hard work. This is especially true in the off-season. Players and coaches must be motivated to put in the work necessary to get better. This involves study and a great deal of training. It involves breaking down game film, learning from past mistakes and implementing new ideas. It involves hours in the weight room building strength and power. Then it requires many more hours on the track or in the gym to improve flexibility, speed and agility. All of this requires discipline and motivation.

Then there is also the emotional aspects of the game. Football and emotion are deeply entwined . We see this emotion on so many levels. It manifests itself in the passion of fans, in the joy of victory, and in the agony of defeat. We also see it at the close of each season, often with tears. Tears of joy after claiming a title, or tears of grief when falling short of the goal. As such, it is possible to motivate by invoking emotion and inspiration. This is often done with music and narrative. Most of us have heard the great motivational speeches of Vince Lombardi and Knute Rockne. Many of us have also witnessed the effect of the music and voice overs in an NFL Films production.

So I want to showcase some of the best football motivational work I’ve seen. In my mind, the 2012 motivational campaign implemented by Navy’s football program is one of the most cohesive and effective I’ve seen. Plus they run the Flexbone, so as a coach of an option offense it is even more meaningful. Navy released the following videos last spring and throughout the 2012 season. I’ve posted a few of them before, but wanted get them all up. The list includes a video entitled “The Journey,” a motivational video for each game, and a 15 minute highlight video for the 2012 season. Check them out and let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Football Motivation Videos

Navy Football “The Journey” from Navy Football Video on Vimeo.

2012 Friday Night Motivational vs Notre Dame from Navy Football Video on Vimeo.

2012 Friday Night Motivational vs VMI from Navy Football Video on Vimeo.

2012 Navy Football Motivational vs San Jose State from Navy Football Video on Vimeo.

Navy Football Motivational 2012 vs Air Force from Navy Football Video on Vimeo.

2012 Navy Football Motivational vs Central Michigan from Navy Football Video on Vimeo.

Navy Football Motivational 2012 vs Indiana from Navy Football Video on Vimeo.

Navy Football Motivational 2012 vs ECU from Navy Football Video on Vimeo.

Navy Football Motivational 2012 vs FAU from Navy Football Video on Vimeo.

2012 Friday Night Motivational vs Troy from Navy Football Video on Vimeo.

2012 Navy Football Motivational vs Army from Navy Football Video on Vimeo.

2012 Navy Football Motivational – ASU from Navy Football Video on Vimeo.

2012 Navy Football Highlights from Navy Football Video on Vimeo.

Strong Football: Breaking Down the Triple Option Quarterbacks Responsibilities – Part 1

West Point QB via West Point Public Relations — Photo by West Point Public Relations.

I’ve got a new article up over at Strong Football that breaks down the triple option quarterback’s responsibilities. It’s the first part of a two-part series and has a lot of information. Check out the excerpt below…

Developing the option quarterback is an essential aspect of most offenses, and this is certainly true for option football. In an option football scheme it is the single most important element of success. The reality is an option football play can be blocked perfectly, but if the option quarterback makes an incorrect read, the result will likely be a loss, or worse, a turnover. In light of this, lets break down exactly what the option quarterback does in the triple option from the time he breaks the huddle to when the whistle is blown. Click here to read the rest of the article.

Head over to his site and check it out. While your there, take a look around at the other great content. Coach Peterson is an awesome source of football knowledge. I particularly enjoyed his posts on using the option to keep defenses gap sound and why offensive line coaches need to understand defensive run fits. Both are excellent reads and I appreciate the opportunity to work with @CoachCP.

In Other News…

I am also working on a few other things to feed your football addictions. I am currently developing a piece on discussing offensive linemen development in the zone scheme. More to come on this as it develops. Additionally, I am working on the first installment of my Ride and Decide section that will review products, applications, books and other various things of interest to those of us in the coaching profession.

Also, for those of you who have subscribed to my email list, I am also working diligently on my Flexbone eBook. I am hoping to have it completed by the end of January. Know the Option. Run the Option. Love the Option.

Dissecting the Option Football Read

The most important aspect of option football is the read. It is the primary factor controlling whether or not your team will be successful.

I have seen option football teams with good offensive lines and solid running backs have less than average results when the quarterback struggles to make the correct read. With this in mind lets explore how a read is made. For the purposes of this article, I will be discussing the Inside Veer play out of a Flexbone set versus a 4-4 front using the “Ride and Decide” mesh method.

Continue reading Dissecting the Option Football Read