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- An option offense is an American football offensive system in which a key player (usually the quarterback) has several "options" of how each play will proceed based upon the actions of the defense. Traditionally, option-based offenses rely on running plays, though most mix in forward passes from an option formation as a change of pace. In a typical option play, the quarterback can hand the ball to a running back who attempts to run up the middle (dive), fake a handoff and attempt to run forward (quarterback keeper), or pitch the ball to a trailing running back who runs towards the sideline (pitch). It is the quarterback who has the responsibility of deciding which option has the best chance of succeeding, a decision which is based on the defensive formation and the initial reactions of one or two specific defensive players, called "keys". A more recent wrinkle to the option offense are run-pass option plays (RPOs), in which the quarterback has the additional option of throwing a quick pass, again depending on a read of a key defensive player or two. Because they are predominately run-based, a successful option offense can keep possession of the ball for long periods of game time, giving the opposing team less time to score and keeping the option team's defense well rested. However, because passing is not a strength of the system, it can be difficult for option-based teams to come back from a large deficit or to score quickly when needed. The roots of the option attack go back over a century to the earliest offensive systems of the modern game, such as the T formation, Single-wing formation, and the Notre Dame Box which were all widely utilized in the early 1900s. By the 1970s, these older systems had evolved into the Wishbone offense, an option-based attack that dominated college football for over a decade along with its Flexbone variant. Though few college teams and no professional teams currently employ the option as their primary offensive system, elements of the scheme are used in the modern spread offense and in the run-pass option and read option plays which many coaches at all levels have incorporated into their playbooks. (en)
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