115:) either takes the football from the quarterback or 'fakes' that he has taken the football. If the fullback takes the football, then he runs straight into the line of scrimmage and attempts to gain yardage. If the fullback does not take the football, then the quarterback sprints parallel to the line of scrimmage with the motion slotback trailing him. The quarterback can either turn upfield or pitch the football to the trailing slotback. Hence the term triple because the fullback is option number one, the quarterback keeping the ball is option number two, and the quarterback pitching to the slotback is option number three. The triple option forces defenses to worry about fullbacks running in the middle of the offensive line and to worry about quarterbacks and slotbacks running to the outside of the line. The decision of who is to carry the ball (which option to make) can either be made before the play in the
119:, or during the play by the QB, who will make decisions based on the position and play of certain defensive players and what they are doing. The quarterback reads the defensive end on the side the play is going to when deciding whether to hand to the fullback or to keep it himself. If he sees the end is committed to stopping the fullback in the middle, the QB will keep it. If the end is staying back to contain the QB on the outside, he will give it to the fullback. If the quarterback does not hand to the FB, he will then read the end to see if he is committed to playing the SB on the pitch or the QB. If he is playing the QB, then he will pitch it to the slotback. If the end is committed to stopping the slotback on the pitch, the QB will take the ball upfield himself.
199:
100:
1171:
20:
266:, who coached under Johnson, to run the flexbone in hopes of resurrecting the program as he'd done at Georgia Southern in 2010. In 2016 and just his 3rd season, Monken lead the Black Knights to an 8 win season and victory over Navy for the first time in 15 straight tries. In 2017, Army won 10 games including a back-to-back win over Navy, both of which hadn't happened since 1996. In the late 1980s, the
128:
position without having to throw the ball very well. Flexbone teams are often playing against more talented teams so they must use time management and trickery of the flexbone to even the playing field. By running the ball almost exclusively, a flexbone offense also runs the game clock and limits the opposing teams possibly faster and stronger offense from scoring against their own defense.
143:
As a result of the misdirection and the size of the outside WRs (usually 6'2 or taller and over 200 pounds) to help block, the slotbacks can be similarly sized to the QB. This allows for the
Flexbone to have 3 players who can run fast (with SBs also helping serve as receivers or lead blockers) while
173:
must be balanced athletically, capable of trailing the quarterback, and good receivers. If the slotbacks are not of equal talent, then a defense can predict which direction the play will develop. Slotbacks typically need to be capable pass receivers because they receive a great deal of high velocity
165:
must be strong enough to break tackles and draw the attention of linebackers and defensive linemen. Good flexbone fullbacks are usually the best ball carriers on the team and receive the majority of rushing attempts. A flexbone fullback is usually smaller and faster than a typical fullback seen in
139:
Since this offense is primarily used by service academies (Air Force, Army, Navy and The
Citadel), it helps alleviate the inherent unbalance related to recruiting and being unable to recruit the type of talent that a larger school like Oklahoma or Alabama might be able to. The Flexbone allows for
131:
Another key consideration is that the flexbone formation gives the offense four potential vertical receiving threats at the snap: the two wide receivers and the two slotbacks. This is something that alternative formations such as the I-formation or the traditional wishbone cannot achieve without
127:
Arguably, the two most difficult positions on offense to develop quickly are wide receivers and quarterbacks. A style of play was needed for teams that could not field strong throwing quarterbacks. In the flexbone formation, intelligent and athletic personnel can adapt to playing a quarterback's
181:
is fatter and stronger than offensive lines in traditional offenses. This is because linemen must be strong enough to get to linebackers and safeties. They also need to be strong enough to block the defensive line, although teams usually utilize double and combo blocking schemes to overcome the
188:
must be avid open field blockers. They are usually asked to block cornerbacks who are generally the fastest and quickest players on the opponent's defense. Wide receivers aren't at the highest priority in flexbone team's recruitment since they aren't after the greatest wide-outs in the market.
157:
who isn't afraid to take a hit, a strong fullback, and two quick slotbacks. The quarterback must be able to read a run defense in order to exploit the holes. His read will determine how to develop an option play. Good flexbone quarterbacks are capable of manipulating overpursuing
257:
school in approximately two decades to use a flexbone offense. In
Johnson's first year at Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets shared the ACC Coastal Division title with Virginia Tech. In 2009, the Jackets beat Clemson in the ACC Championship game to get to the Capital One
313:
in 2023, while also setting the all-time NCAA record in rushing yards for a season—for all divisions—with over 6,000. In the national championship game, Harding beat the
Colorado School of Mines Orediggers 38–7, while compiling over 500 rushing yards in the game.
189:
However, flexbone receivers do need sure hands. As a run-heavy offense, flexbone can create a great deal of havoc amongst defenses if - along with strong run game - they can establish even the simplest passing attack with sure-handed receivers.
111:. Often the quarterback first sends one of the slotbacks in motion to the other side. While he is still in motion behind the fullback, the quarterback then receives the ball from the center. Next, the fullback (
140:
QBs who may be shorter or smaller than ideal (5'10 - 6'2 and weighing around 185-205 pounds) to be able to start because they often have a speed advantage despite not being able to throw the ball as well.
245:
football and testaments to the formation's ability to use key offensive players effectively when a team has significantly less talent on the field. But with the hiring of former Navy head coach
481:
218:
103:
An unbalanced flexbone formation with a slotback (SB), wingback (WB), wide receiver (WR), tight end (TE), quarterback (QB), fullback (FB), and five down linemen (OL).
445:
242:
474:
382:
339:
310:
246:
207:
23:
The base flexbone formation with two slotbacks (SB), two wide receivers (WR), a quarterback (QB), a fullback (FB), and five down linemen (OL).
1195:
226:
351:
250:
203:
198:
1174:
467:
80:
907:
876:
818:
298:
369:
360:
343:
306:
222:
71:
aligned behind the line of scrimmage on each side of the offensive line. The slotbacks are sometimes incorrectly referred to as
297:
who in 2017 lead the Owls to a 12–2 record and appearance in FCS playoffs in only the 3rd year of the program's existence. The
808:
378:
91:
on the line of scrimmage and then the wingback off the line of scrimmage (as featured in the unbalanced formation diagram).
1120:
1050:
947:
286:
32:
404:
290:
267:
72:
60:
748:
132:
pre-snap motion that tips the offense's hand. This advantage allows the four-verticals play, a deadly weapon against
793:
490:
442:
400:
334:
234:
88:
928:
617:
454:
302:
282:
76:
1140:
391:
347:
238:
1073:
933:
525:
408:
1115:
1085:
798:
254:
1068:
136:, a common defensive coverage used by the eight-man fronts that a strong running team is likely to face.
1015:
975:
897:
592:
1156:
980:
823:
803:
318:
275:
555:
514:
230:
1000:
871:
607:
597:
509:
504:
412:
56:
99:
1058:
1025:
985:
788:
700:
587:
36:
923:
839:
728:
565:
560:
550:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1090:
1080:
1063:
1135:
1035:
1020:
995:
902:
758:
575:
449:
387:
215:
1130:
1040:
1010:
844:
773:
635:
602:
570:
330:
294:
1189:
580:
373:
52:
1125:
813:
783:
778:
753:
695:
630:
540:
396:
271:
64:
44:
19:
281:
Schools at the FCS (formerly I-AA) level that currently run the
Flexbone include
970:
965:
955:
738:
710:
705:
690:
680:
625:
545:
365:
356:
309:, ran a version of the flex-bone in its undefeated 2023 season. Harding won the
263:
259:
40:
1095:
1030:
768:
743:
720:
685:
675:
665:
650:
645:
640:
459:
763:
733:
670:
660:
655:
84:
48:
68:
990:
960:
881:
133:
116:
107:
The basic play run from the flexbone is known as a triple option, or
197:
98:
18:
108:
63:
lined up directly behind the quarterback. There are two smaller
463:
241:(Navy) were the last major remnants of flexbone football in
144:
the FB can be a more traditional HB size of 220-235 pounds.
225:
pioneered a version of the flexbone that won a record six
174:
pitches and are primary receivers during passing plays.
1149:
1049:
946:
916:
890:
864:
857:
832:
719:
616:
533:
523:
497:
75:. But in order to be a wingback, there must be a
249:(who also coached at Georgia Southern) in 2008,
289:, and more recently the upstart program of the
59:and features a quarterback under center with a
475:
227:NCAA Championship Subdivision National Titles
55:. The flexbone formation is derived from the
8:
317:The flexbone offense is also popular at the
861:
530:
482:
468:
460:
270:ran a version of the flexbone under coach
153:The offense needs an intelligent and fast
427:
305:(GAC) of NCAA Division II, under coach
443:Important Georgia Southern Statistics
233:titles. Through the 2007 season, the
7:
206:in the flexbone formation against
14:
311:Division II national championship
1170:
1169:
43:, five offensive linemen, three
235:United States Air Force Academy
1:
194:Use of the flexbone formation
1196:American football formations
434:hardingsports.com, espn.com
239:United States Naval Academy
16:American football formation
1212:
491:American football strategy
1165:
303:Great American Conference
299:Harding University Bisons
47:, and varying numbers of
417:Mehmet “Gandhi” Turan –
274:and won two consecutive
219:Championship Subdivision
325:Famous Flexbone coaches
148:Requirements to succeed
87:all on one side of the
268:University of Arkansas
262:. In 2014, Army hired
211:
166:conventional offenses.
104:
24:
201:
182:disadvantage in size.
102:
22:
1157:Resting the starters
1051:Defensive formations
948:Offensive formations
319:high school football
276:Southwest Conference
237:(Air Force) and the
301:, competing in the
291:Kennesaw State Owls
231:Southern Conference
858:Defensive strategy
448:2006-06-14 at the
383:Eastern New Mexico
212:
105:
57:wishbone formation
29:flexbone formation
25:
1183:
1182:
942:
941:
853:
852:
799:Statue of Liberty
253:became the first
204:Air Force Falcons
37:American football
1203:
1173:
1172:
924:Icing the kicker
862:
840:Clock management
794:Hook and lateral
729:Play-action pass
531:
484:
477:
470:
461:
455:Flexbone history
435:
432:
370:Georgia Southern
361:Georgia Southern
344:Georgia Southern
223:Georgia Southern
39:that includes a
31:is an offensive
1211:
1210:
1206:
1205:
1204:
1202:
1201:
1200:
1186:
1185:
1184:
1179:
1161:
1145:
1074:Seattle Cover 3
1045:
1036:Minnesota shift
996:Single set back
938:
912:
886:
849:
828:
824:Tackle-eligible
804:Halfback option
759:Fake field goal
715:
612:
576:Run-pass option
519:
493:
488:
450:Wayback Machine
439:
438:
433:
429:
424:
388:Ken Niumatalolo
327:
196:
150:
125:
97:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1209:
1207:
1199:
1198:
1188:
1187:
1181:
1180:
1178:
1177:
1166:
1163:
1162:
1160:
1159:
1153:
1151:
1147:
1146:
1144:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1108:
1103:
1098:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1077:
1076:
1071:
1061:
1055:
1053:
1047:
1046:
1044:
1043:
1041:Notre Dame Box
1038:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1018:
1013:
1008:
1003:
998:
993:
988:
983:
978:
973:
968:
963:
958:
952:
950:
944:
943:
940:
939:
937:
936:
931:
926:
920:
918:
914:
913:
911:
910:
905:
900:
894:
892:
888:
887:
885:
884:
879:
874:
868:
866:
859:
855:
854:
851:
850:
848:
847:
845:Hail Mary pass
842:
836:
834:
830:
829:
827:
826:
821:
816:
811:
806:
801:
796:
791:
786:
781:
776:
774:Fake procedure
771:
766:
761:
756:
751:
746:
741:
736:
731:
725:
723:
717:
716:
714:
713:
708:
703:
698:
693:
688:
683:
678:
673:
668:
663:
658:
653:
648:
643:
638:
633:
628:
622:
620:
614:
613:
611:
610:
605:
600:
595:
590:
585:
584:
583:
578:
568:
563:
558:
553:
548:
543:
537:
535:
528:
521:
520:
518:
517:
512:
507:
501:
499:
495:
494:
489:
487:
486:
479:
472:
464:
458:
457:
452:
437:
436:
426:
425:
423:
420:
419:
418:
415:
394:
385:
376:
363:
354:
337:
331:Fisher DeBerry
326:
323:
295:Brian Bohannon
255:BCS conference
195:
192:
191:
190:
186:Wide receivers
183:
179:offensive line
175:
167:
159:
149:
146:
124:
121:
96:
93:
53:wide receivers
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1208:
1197:
1194:
1193:
1191:
1176:
1168:
1167:
1164:
1158:
1155:
1154:
1152:
1148:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1107:
1104:
1102:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1075:
1072:
1070:
1067:
1066:
1065:
1062:
1060:
1057:
1056:
1054:
1052:
1048:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
987:
984:
982:
979:
977:
974:
972:
969:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
953:
951:
949:
945:
935:
932:
930:
927:
925:
922:
921:
919:
915:
909:
906:
904:
901:
899:
896:
895:
893:
889:
883:
880:
878:
875:
873:
870:
869:
867:
863:
860:
856:
846:
843:
841:
838:
837:
835:
831:
825:
822:
820:
819:Swinging gate
817:
815:
812:
810:
807:
805:
802:
800:
797:
795:
792:
790:
787:
785:
782:
780:
777:
775:
772:
770:
767:
765:
762:
760:
757:
755:
752:
750:
747:
745:
742:
740:
737:
735:
732:
730:
727:
726:
724:
722:
718:
712:
709:
707:
704:
702:
699:
697:
694:
692:
689:
687:
684:
682:
679:
677:
674:
672:
669:
667:
664:
662:
659:
657:
654:
652:
649:
647:
644:
642:
639:
637:
634:
632:
629:
627:
624:
623:
621:
619:
615:
609:
606:
604:
601:
599:
596:
594:
593:Run and shoot
591:
589:
586:
582:
581:Triple option
579:
577:
574:
573:
572:
569:
567:
564:
562:
559:
557:
554:
552:
549:
547:
544:
542:
539:
538:
536:
532:
529:
527:
522:
516:
513:
511:
508:
506:
503:
502:
500:
496:
492:
485:
480:
478:
473:
471:
466:
465:
462:
456:
453:
451:
447:
444:
441:
440:
431:
428:
421:
416:
414:
410:
406:
402:
398:
395:
393:
389:
386:
384:
380:
377:
375:
371:
367:
364:
362:
358:
355:
353:
349:
345:
341:
338:
336:
332:
329:
328:
324:
322:
320:
315:
312:
308:
304:
300:
296:
292:
288:
284:
279:
277:
273:
269:
265:
261:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
228:
224:
220:
217:
209:
205:
200:
193:
187:
184:
180:
176:
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
151:
147:
145:
141:
137:
135:
129:
122:
120:
118:
114:
110:
101:
95:Triple option
94:
92:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
70:
66:
65:running backs
62:
58:
54:
50:
46:
45:running backs
42:
38:
34:
30:
21:
1141:8-in-the-box
1005:
898:Bump and run
784:Fumblerooski
779:Flea flicker
556:Buck-lateral
515:Play calling
430:
397:Ken Hatfield
352:Georgia Tech
340:Paul Johnson
316:
307:Paul Simmons
280:
272:Ken Hatfield
251:Georgia Tech
247:Paul Johnson
213:
185:
178:
170:
162:
154:
142:
138:
130:
126:
112:
106:
28:
26:
1016:Pistol-Flex
976:Single-wing
789:Hidden ball
739:Double pass
721:Trick plays
701:Stop-and-go
546:Air Coryell
510:Two-platoon
505:One-platoon
366:Jeff Monken
357:Erk Russell
293:coached by
287:The Citadel
264:Jeff Monken
260:Orange Bowl
155:quarterback
41:quarterback
1031:Jump shift
981:Short punt
872:Man-to-man
809:Hard count
769:Fake spike
744:End-around
608:West Coast
598:Smashmouth
524:Offensive
422:References
379:Kelley Lee
221:football,
216:Division I
49:tight ends
1069:Miami 4–3
891:Coverages
764:Fake punt
588:Pro-style
401:Air Force
335:Air Force
229:and nine
171:slotbacks
158:defenses.
85:tight end
73:wingbacks
69:slotbacks
33:formation
1190:Category
1175:Category
1006:Flexbone
1001:Wishbone
636:Crossing
566:Multiple
561:Hurry-up
551:Air raid
526:strategy
446:Archived
405:Arkansas
278:titles.
208:Michigan
163:fullback
61:fullback
1136:Prevent
1121:7–1–2–1
1059:2-level
1026:Wildcat
991:Pro set
986:Shotgun
961:Split-T
882:Tampa 2
814:Pyramid
754:Spinner
749:Reverse
498:Systems
409:Clemson
321:level.
283:Wofford
210:in 2012
134:Cover 3
123:Purpose
67:called
1131:Nickel
1011:Pistol
903:Double
865:Scheme
696:Sluggo
681:Screen
631:Corner
618:Routes
603:Spread
571:Option
534:Scheme
117:huddle
89:center
81:tackle
1150:Other
1116:7–2–2
1086:3–3–5
1021:Trips
929:Stunt
917:Other
833:Other
711:Wheel
706:Swing
691:Slant
626:Chair
77:guard
1126:Dime
908:Zone
877:Zone
734:Draw
686:Seam
676:Post
666:Jerk
651:Flat
646:Drag
641:Curl
541:A-11
413:Rice
392:Navy
374:Army
348:Navy
202:The
177:The
169:The
161:The
109:veer
83:and
51:and
27:The
1111:6–2
1106:5–3
1101:5–2
1091:4–4
1081:3–4
1064:4–3
934:Spy
671:Out
661:Hot
656:Fly
243:FBS
214:In
35:in
1192::
1096:46
411:,
407:,
403:,
399:–
390:–
381:–
372:,
368:–
359:–
350:,
346:,
342:–
333:–
285:,
113:FB
79:,
971:A
966:I
956:T
483:e
476:t
469:v
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
