Navy’s 2015 Triple Option Offense: Part One of a Quantitative Study

June 15, 2016

Introduction

This is the first of a four-part study on Navy’s 2015 Triple Option Offense.  The data derived from this study is based on Navy’s play selection during all games during the 2015 season.  You will learn what Navy actually does to execute their Triple Option Offense, and what created Navy’s best season in 53 years.

Navy versus Colgate

Navy (48) v. Colgate (10)

Navy Total Plays- 54

Notes: 59% of Offense v. Colgate was Triple Option, Belly, and Trap.

Navy versus East Carolina

Navy won 45-21

Versus East Carolina- Notes: 72% of offense was Triple, Zone Dive, Zone Option, Midline Triple, and Down

Neither Georgia Tech nor Navy ran any variation of Midline in three total games; however, Navy ran Midline variations 12/81 total plays v. East Carolina (15% of offense).

On Misdirection

In Navy’s win versus Colgate (2015), 6 of the 54 plays they ran were classified as misdirection.  This is because they were run away from the A-Back’s pitch route/motion.  This was 11% of their offense.

In Georgia Tech’s win versus Tulane (2015), Tech ran 66 plays.  12 of the 66 plays were away from the A-Back’s pitch route/motion. This was 18% of their offense.

So in making decisions on how much offense you need to run the Triple Option offense effectively, less than 20% of your offense should be misdirection based.  

The average high school game consists of 48 plays.

20% of 48 is 10.

Arizona Cardinals’ Offensive Line Coach, Larry Zierlein has done extensive research in running the football over the last 15 years.  He has indicated that for a play to be successful, the play must be run at least four times/game.

The answer to how much misdirection do we need in our Triple Option Offense is the following: Less than two concepts.

In Georgia Tech’s First Two Games and in Navy’s Game versus Colgate…

Midline Option was run a total of zero (0) times.

One Head College Football Coach told Dr. Cella that the reason why Midline is being run less frequent is that coaches don’t want to get their star Quarterbacks (Justin Thomas-Tech and Keenan Reynolds-Navy) hurt.

Navy’s Keenan Reynolds (19) and UConn’s Matt Walsh (36) during the UConn Huskies vs Navy Midshipmen football game at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT on September 26, 2015.

Navy versus UConn

Navy won 28-18

Notes- 2/3 of Navy’s Offense was Triple Option, Zone Option, Midline White (Heavy), B-Back Toss, Belly, and Rocket Toss.

Navy has a tremendous focus this year on putting the ball in the Quarterback and B-Back’s hands.  They are putting the ball in the A-Back’s hands way less than in the past.

Navy has won two conference games this season (East Carolina and UConn) and a non-conference game vs. Colgate.

Sep 19, 2015; Annapolis, MD, USA; Navy Midshipmen quarterback Keenan Reynolds (19) throws the ball as East Carolina Pirates linebacker Montese Overton (51) chases in the second quarter at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Navy’s First Three Games of 2015

Navy has run 200 plays so far this season.

Here’s what they have done to date:

Triple Option– 45 times (23% of offense)

Zone Option– 19 times (10% of offense)

Zone Dive– 18 times (9% of offense) (Note: All 18 reps of Zone Dive occurred in ONE game.)

Belly– 16 times (8% of offense)

Midline White- 11 times (6% of offense)

Midline Triple- 11 times (6% of offense)

Follow- 10 times (5% of offense)

Rocket- 9 times (5% of offense)

These above-listed concepts consist of 72% of the offense.

Zone Dive and Belly are utilized when #1 forces a pull read.

Zone Option is utilized when #1 forces a give read.

Part Two is published tomorrow.