The Lead Option is a scheme timeless scheme that most 8man football defensive coordinators wish would come to an end. Sometimes years will go by and few teams run this scheme but it always makes a quick comeback as coaches realize the effectiveness of this simple to run but crazy hard to stop stratagem.
Coaches were running Lead Option concepts well before most coaches today were born and its safe to say that they will be running them long after we are all gone. It’s just that flexible and successful.
Below is an actual play taken from the Beast Offense book.
The beautiful thing about the Lead Option play is that it can be run against virtually any defense and at almost anytime in the game without adjustment. It is a very easy play to teach and run but a very hard play to stop.
Above is the original way we ran the Lead Option. Here we have an I formation. You can find our I playbook by clicking below as well.
We are taking advantage of what we call a “Plus” which is a 6yd split with the right End. A “Minus” would be the left End split 6yds and a “+/-” would be both Ends split at just 6 yards. You do not have to us Plus and Minus splits to run the Lead Option.
The Lead Option fits nicely into modern Pistol sets and is exceptionally lethal from the Drop Option look.
