Decision-Making

The essence of a quarterback, whether an option or passing quarterback is his ability to make decisions. Teaching the quarterback a decision making process is essential for an offense, regardless of style to be successful. Indecision is a offense killer.

The key for a quarterback consistently making correct decisions in an option offense is for him to make one-way decisions. One-way are pre-determined in the huddle or at the line of scrimmage. This simple, logical, consistent process is easy for young quarterbacks to understand.

A quarterback can’t approach the option man asking himself, “Do I pitch it, do I keep it, do I pitch it?” A one-way decision eliminates the problem by instructing the quarterback what to do the instant an option play is called. The one-way decision instructs the quarterback to pitch the ball until the option man takes the pitch away. As he breaks the huddle he tells himself, “Pitch, pitch until he won’t let me.” If the ball can’t be pitched there is only one avenue open – keep the ball and run.

The Eyes

Coaching the eyes is critical in developing an effective option quarterback. A quarterback options a defender with his feet, hands, and eyes. Coach the quarterback’s eyes!

The feet drive the quarterback to the option man and a short step triggers the pitch. The hand pitches the ball to a specific target. The eyes read the intentions of the option man. The quarterback must focus on the option man’s body and feet, not his head, in order to be prepared to pitch the ball quicker than a heartbeat. When the option man’s back foot plants the ball is pitched.

The eyes look the pitch into the back’s hands for three critical reasons. First, to make certain the back is in position to catch the pitch. Second, to target the pitch so the back can run through the ball without breaking stride. A perfect pitch is about half an arm’s length from the back’s jersey numbers. Third, a quarterback who ‘looks the pitch in, is the player in the best position to recover an errant or mishandled pitch. Looking the ball in can prevent turn-overs.

The quarterback uses his eyes in another aspect of the option technique. The eyes are a powerful magnet. The eyes are used to misdirect the option man in the same manner as Peyton Manning looks off defenders to throw the football. The quarterback misdirects the option man by taking a quick look over the defender’s inside shoulder before pitching the ball, or looking over his outside shoulder to keep the ball.

Reducing the Risks

A quarterback reduces the risks of executing an option play and the risks of injury by adhering to several critical coaching points. These coaching points are an integral part of an option quarterback’s education.

Always think hard end. Be prepared for quick, hard pressure from the option man, whether he comes from the LOS or from the secondary. Never get caught flat-footed by a hard end exposing yourself to a ‘big hit.’
When in doubt, don’t. When the defensive reactions create doubt in the decision making process, keep the ball, get what you can get. Don’t risk a turnover by trying to put a square peg into a round hole which only results in splinters and all splinters are good for is fires.
Don’t pitch in the grasp. When in the grasp of a defender the play is over. Protect the football. Occasionally a great play is made when a quarterback pitches in the grasp of a defender – the key word is occasionally – on most occasions it creates a turnover.
Don’t pitch the ball blind. Look the pitch into the back’s hands to make sure he is in position to catch the ball. Don’t pitch to a ghost or to a back who went the wrong way.
Never pitch off number 2. When the ball is pitched off a defender inside the option man, the option man is free to attack the back easily causing a fumble.
Get the ball pitched. Pitch the ball when the defensive reactions dictate a pitch. Don’t keep the ball for a 3 or 4 yard gain when the back would have gained 30 yards if the ball was pitched.
Don’t cutback. Don’t cutback into the teeth of the defense – run the option alley – hash, numbers and up the sideline to runaway from the defense.
Don’t get hit. Being tackled is far different from getting hit. The quarterback is not a tailback, except on 3^rd or 4^th down and short. On contact give like a 100 pound sack of flour with one end open.

E-Mail the Ol’ Coach with your questions at coachb@hargray.com

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Coach Beckish is a member of the South Carolina State University coaching staff, coaching the Offensive Line. The list of coaches that Larry his worked with reads like a “Who’s Who” among coaching legends. His coaching stints include stops in the ACC, SEC, and Big Ten.

Larry played for four years at Wichita State University (1960-1965), and was team captain in 1963. Upon graduating from Wichita State, Beckish began his coaching career at the University of Tampa where he coached both the offensive and defensive lines.

After two seasons at Tampa, Beckish headed north to serve as the receivers coach at Clemson under the legendary Frank Howard. He moved south again for a season at the University of Miami before returning to Clemson as receivers coach and he coached the Tigers from 1971-1976.

After Clemson, Beckish returned to his alma mater to work with the legendary Willie Jeffries, who made history by becoming the first African-American head coach in Division 1-A. At WSU Coach Beckish, the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator and the staff developed the Trap Option.

Following three years with Jeffries, Beckish became an assistant at East Carolina for a season before joining the Arizona Wranglers of the now-defunct USFL. He later coached three seasons at the University of Minnesota as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for Lou Holtz.

After brief retirement Larry returned to coach two seasons at Ole Miss (1990-1992) as well as a season with the Charlotte Rage of the Arena League. From 1995 through 1998 he coached at Duke. Larry recently worked as a ‘volunteer’ coach at Hilton Head High School in 2001 and 2002 before returning to college football in 2003.

During retirement from 1987-1990, he wrote ‘The Trap Option – 40 Plus 60 Equals Option.’ He also authored, ‘I Believe in Cream, Apples, and Football – Thoughts for Coaches'.

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