Split Back Wide Veer

Wide veer (outside veer) being run to a TE surface.

The fullback's path is wide to the outside leg of the OT. The QB has to go fast, flat, and really stretch to get to the mesh point. The dive key is the 9 technique Sam LB. If the key crashes to the dive the QB will keep. If the key sits the ball is given to the FB on the dive. The play puts stress on perimeter players who are primarily playing the QB in the triple scheme. Now that player is stressed with a dive threat. 

Really good technique by the TE to release inside and vertical to get to the block on the ILB. Also the vertical release of the TE helps wall the 9 tech from being able to close down to the dive. This play often ends up as a wide dive with the ball given on the quick hitting edge run to the FB. The FB here does a good job of seeing the flow of the LBs and getting vertical in his path once he has the ball. The play also has the perimeter element allowing for all three phases of the option to be viable. If the 9 tech had crashed to the dive here, the QB would have kept and attacked the edge. The overhang player would have been the pitch key. 

Good example of the wide veer from split backs from Carson-Newman. 

Split Back Midline QB Iso

Split back midline QB Iso dual option scheme:

Dive key is the 4i. Key sits = Give to the Dive on the midline course. Key crashes to Dive = QB keep and follow lead block. The backside split back (F) is going over the top of the QB to become the lead block on the Iso scheme.

The BSG isn't able to climb to the ILB due to getting caught up with the BST's cut on the backside 4i. The lead block does a great job leading tight outside the QB as he bypasses to get into the lead block position. Unfortunately the lead doesn't find a block, had he covered up the playside Safety the run might have gone to the endzone. 

The midline QB scheme doesn't look like the top threat weak here with no clear immediate insert Iso lead blocker in the formation. Nice job by the Eagles to get the back side split back into the lead block assignment. 

As always good stuff from the Carson-Newman split back option scheme.

Crack G Sweep

Here is a crack G scheme sweep from split backs.

Playside the OT has a good angle to down block on the 4i. The TE goes is short motion to crack the playside ILB. The pulling Guard wraps to pick up the flow and overlap backside ILB. The outside receiver is also crack blocking. The result is a 2 for 1 by blocking the safety and slowing the Corner from fitting the run. The QB's keep fake helps control backside pursuit.

Nice efficient run with good perimeter blocking from Carson-Newman. These are the types of schemes that may become more popular as teams look for scheme answers to tite front defenses.

A couple of examples of how spread teams may integrate the concept into their schemes.

From Trey Y Off - The QB showing the keep helps control the backside pursuit

From a Y Flex 

Or possibly from with a QB run element 

The play fake to the RB helps control the backside pursuit and holds the LB's in the box. The QB takes over as the ball carrier.

Something to have in mind for teams looking to scheme up tite front with G scheme perimeter runs. 

Split Back Option Play Action Throwback Wheel

Interesting play action variation from Carson-Newman.

The backfield action simulates option strong. Off the dive fake the QB sets up opposite the action and throws the weak side seam/wheel route combination. 

With the weak OLB pressuring the coverage is light in the weak side flat. The man corner is occupied by the seam release X receiver. The route runs the Corner inside and creates a natural pick on the Safety. 

The seam/wheel route combination is a staple play action concept in flexbone offenses. 

The major difference is the standard flexbone option play action seam/wheel route is going with the backfield flow. The motion, backfield action, and route combination all work is the same direction.

Great design by Carson-Newman to us a throwback play action off the option to punish a defense playing fast to backfield action or over playing the strong side of the formation. 

Split Back Load Option vs. Odd Front Defenses

Here is Carson-Newman running split back load option vs. two odd front structures.

The defense is in a 3-4 with the LB's bumped to crate a 3-3 spacing. 

The fit here is the OLB (9 Technique Sam) is slow playing the QB with the stack LB (Mike) the crack and load blocking scheme gets both the force safety and the corner blocked. The stack spacing makes the angle for the TE to get to the Stack LB difficult. The TE's angle ends up cutting off the middle LB in the stack.The QB does a good job of attacking the OLB and pitching late. The QB's attack of the edge helps hold the OLB and Stack LB. 

The next look the spacing is a 3-4 with a coverage rolled strong to a 1 high.

The OLB tries to slow play and widen to play the inside of the pitch late with the safety playing force outside the pitch. The TE now has an angle on the ILB. The QB does a great job of pressing the edge. As the OLB widens the QB keeps. The TE seals the ILB and the load block of the A back handles the safety. Really nice path of hash-numbers-sideline by the QB to take the most efficient angle. 

Good stuff running split back load option from the Eagles.

Split Back Trap

Here is a nice example of a trap in a split back option offense.

The formation is an unbalanced 3x0 2 back set with a motion back to 2x1

The QB opens and meshes with the B back. The presentation to the defense is a triple option strong. The defense here is in a 3-4 personnel bumped into a 3-3 stack spacing. The trap is on the weak side 4i DE.

The success of the trap comes from a few factors:

1. The trapping guard and B back are on the DE fast. Too fast for the DE to effectively attack the block, shed the block, and make the tackle.

2. The option presentation and full carry out of the option fake from the QB/A back help force hesitation in the strong side of the defense

3. The wide split by the OT helps prevent the DE from chasing to tackle the B back from the backside

4. The B back goes a great job keeping his path tight and his shoulders square to hit the run inside the guard's trap block while being able to immediately burst to gain yards

5. The trap hits quick which affects the ability of either safety to fold in to make the tackle. The ball is running too quickly down the MOF for the angles of the safeties helping create the explosiveness of the run.

Really good scheme and execution from Carson-Newman.