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Film Session: The exciting return of the RB Option Pass Route

One way Anae liked to utilize the RB option was to split two receivers wide, then put Unga in motion into a trips formation. Below, you’ll see Unga hesitate to both read his defender and allow receivers to clear the area, then proceed to YAC:

Linebackers just aren’t used to having to cover that much ground in pass coverage.

Finally, we see what happens to a defender when he’s been read by the running back several times and expects a middle route. Unga, beginning the play at the quarterback’s left, straight and-one-mixtape’s his man here:

 

The above play illustrates the immense value of the RB option route when considered in the context of the game. BYU was trailing Washington 14-7 in the second quarter, and a solid drive was grinding slowly as Austin Collie had dropped four passes in a row — including a ball over the top of the defense that he couldn’t quite corral in the endzone after the defender got a fingertip on it.

Instead of stalling and kicking a field goal, the Cougars pushed into the red zone with this 10+ yard gainer, then tied the game with a touchdown.

If Algernon Brown (and hopefully other running backs, too) can master this with Taysom Hill — and if the offensive line can provide the protection needed for such plays to develop — the BYU offense will have a valuable wrinkle to keep drives alive and improve red zone efficiency.

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9 Comments

  1. Accipiter

    July 14, 2014 at 9:35 am

    Don’t forget the wheel route.

  2. Wes

    July 14, 2014 at 11:45 am

    Great article. I love this, and boy was it missing last year. I feel that Jamaal’s tipped pick-six last year is why Anae went away from throwing to his running backs. The slipperly ball was thrown high – and not to excuse Williams, but the play was unfortunate but understandable.

    I’m glad if he starts using throws again – to Brown – but what about Williams? I think that Jamaal is confused – in interviews he talks about how he likes to run over people. And while he does have some power, he’s not a power back. Anae HAS to find ways to get Jamaal in open space. About the ONLY thing Doman did right as an OC was the shuffle pass to Jamaal. Jamaal, listen to your Mamma, become a more complete back – and then you’ll play on Sundays.

    All of this – unless, of course – Jamaal can’t catch. But I think he can.

    • JIm

      July 14, 2014 at 12:21 pm

      Hill just needs the protection and time. if he has to scramble it’s much harder to execute as an option. It would be great to see again!

      • Wes

        July 14, 2014 at 2:09 pm

        Definitely. His throws when he was set in the pocket with time last year (there weren’t many) were on the money. Lasike will do his job, it all depends on the O-line.

    • Wes

      July 14, 2014 at 2:10 pm

      Err.. yeah, shovel pass, not shuffle pass. Sorry.

  3. Don

    July 14, 2014 at 11:53 am

    Great point! This needs to be used more often.

  4. Kevin

    July 14, 2014 at 3:18 pm

    JJ DiLuigi was always a threat to find a hole between linebackers to sit down in. While attending games I would get irritated with fans sitting around me because they would complain about the dump-off passes to the backs for gains of five or seven yards instead of going long down the field. BYU was tops in the nation or near the top in the nation in first downs and in third down conversions. The short RB option pass has been missing and is greatly needed. I’m not sure why Anae says it was too hard or difficult to learn. It’s not that complicated. It just takes practice and time to make sure the QB and RBs are on the same page and making the same reads — just like most pass routes to the receivers.

    • Brett Hein

      July 14, 2014 at 9:03 pm

      The learning curve for the new offense was probably pretty steep, especially with the tempo. It makes sense to me that not everything came at once.