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line of scrimmage. Another reason is that the passing ability of most running backs is usually poor in relation to the passing ability of a quarterback. However, certain teams and players do successfully run the option one to a few times a season; used sparingly it can be effective to make a game-changing play.
91:
The halfback option play usually has limited success and is not commonly used, especially in the NFL. The play almost completely relies on the element of surprise and better coaching has resulted in defensive backs being instructed to stay in coverage until the running back with the ball crosses the
87:
are fooled and believe the ball carrier is attempting a run, they will pursue the runner, abandoning their pass defense responsibilities and thereby leaving pass receivers uncovered. If the defensive backs are not fooled, the running back carrying the ball does have the option to run, instead of
185:
took the snap and pitched the ball to
Newhouse who ran left, faking a sweep, before pulling up and throwing an absolutely perfect pass to an almost perfectly covered Richards. This basically sealed the game for Dallas, and they went on to win
60:. This can be effective because the quarterback usually does very little after handing off or pitching the ball to the running back on most plays, and the defense might not be expecting him to be used as an active receiver. In the
88:
risking an incomplete pass or an interception. This play is not as popular as it once was as defensive players are expected to cover receivers until the football crosses the line of scrimmage on running plays.
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181:, versus the Denver Broncos, becoming the first fullback/halfback to throw a touchdown pass in Super Bowl history. QB
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In modern professional football history, a halfback has only thrown more than one touchdown in three games: halfback
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265:. In Week 3 of that season, the play was used no less than nine times across the league, four times by
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There have been many notable cases where the halfback option pass has been used with great success.
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on the halfback option play, becoming the first quarterback ever to catch a pass in the Super Bowl.
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successfully threw seven touchdowns on option passes on just twelve career passing attempts.
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381:"Video: Tim Tebow In New York Jets' Offensive Coordinator Tony Sparano wildcat offense"
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has the option to throw a pass to another eligible receiver before crossing the
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261:, the halfback option play became particularly popular with the advent of the
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prominently featured the halfback option as the game-winning play, with
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who then passed it to wide receiver Ron Smith for a 24-yard touchdown.
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The key to the play is fooling the defensive players, primarily the
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will run out of the backfield and become a receiving option for the
1010:
980:
901:
48:
The running play that halfback options usually resemble is a
363:"Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints - September 18th, 1983"
103:
threw two touchdown passes in a 1959 NFL game against the
138:
The halfback option play is an integral part of the
131:
threw two touchdowns in a 1983 NFL game against the
436:"LaDainian Tomlinson Career Passing Touchdown Log"
246:used halfback option passes with great success in
467:Odd formations could become latest fad across NFL
158:Perhaps the first use of the play occurred under
142:, which involves the halfback receiving a direct
1207:
177:threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
64:(NFL), if the quarterback starts the play under
509:
32:. It resembles a normal running play, but the
495:
284:A halfback option pass was one of the many
502:
488:
115:threw two touchdowns as a halfback in an
43:
336:, in position as halfback, completing a
307:successfully used a halfback option in
193:successfully used a halfback option in
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483:
201:handing the ball off to running back
319:who then passed it to wide receiver
220:caught a 23-yard pass from halfback
149:
13:
315:pitching the ball to running back
14:
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273:, twice by McFadden, and once by
1190:
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418:"My Super Bowl: Roger Staubach"
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1:
348:
7:
326:Fictionally, the 1998 film
10:
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511:American football strategy
441:Pro-Football-Reference.com
367:Pro-Football-Reference.com
173:, Dallas Cowboys fullback
123:in 1961; and running back
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117:American Football League
62:National Football League
1216:American football plays
323:for a 6-yard touchdown.
119:(AFL) game against the
44:Strategy and execution
407:Hargiss's Option Play
288:successfully used by
250:, using running back
160:Homer Woodson Hargiss
1177:Resting the starters
1071:Defensive formations
968:Offensive formations
473:. 24 September 2008.
18:halfback option play
311:, with quarterback
244:Arkansas Razorbacks
233:LaDainian Tomlinson
203:Lawrence McCutcheon
197:, with quarterback
72:to receive a pass.
878:Defensive strategy
305:Cincinnati Bengals
229:San Diego Chargers
164:College of Emporia
133:New Orleans Saints
1203:
1202:
962:
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873:
872:
819:Statue of Liberty
263:Wildcat formation
150:Notable instances
107:; utility player
101:Green Bay Packers
70:shotgun formation
38:line of scrimmage
30:Canadian football
20:is an unorthodox
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944:Icing the kicker
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860:Clock management
814:Hook and lateral
749:Play-action pass
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385:Business Insider
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298:2007 Fiesta Bowl
292:in its win over
275:Baltimore Ravens
240:college football
191:Los Angeles Rams
105:Los Angeles Rams
52:. Sometimes the
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1094:Seattle Cover 3
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1056:Minnesota shift
1016:Single set back
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844:Tackle-eligible
824:Halfback option
779:Fake field goal
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596:Run-pass option
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465:Bell, Jarrett.
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340:to quarterback
259:2008 NFL season
252:Darren McFadden
210:Super Bowl XXII
199:Vince Ferragamo
179:Golden Richards
175:Robert Newhouse
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140:wildcat offense
77:defensive backs
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279:Willis McGahee
267:Miami Dolphins
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171:Super Bowl XII
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1161:8-in-the-box
918:Bump and run
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804:Fumblerooski
799:Flea flicker
576:Buck-lateral
535:Play calling
461:
449:. Retrieved
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388:. Retrieved
384:
375:
366:
357:
329:The Waterboy
327:
271:Ronnie Brown
254:in the role.
222:Steve Sewell
216:quarterback
153:
137:
97:Paul Hornung
94:
90:
74:
58:running back
47:
34:running back
17:
15:
1036:Pistol-Flex
996:Single-wing
809:Hidden ball
759:Double pass
741:Trick plays
721:Stop-and-go
566:Air Coryell
530:Two-platoon
525:One-platoon
451:January 14,
422:www.nfl.com
321:Tee Higgins
290:Boise State
286:trick plays
257:During the
83:and/or the
81:linebackers
54:quarterback
1051:Jump shift
1001:Short punt
892:Man-to-man
829:Hard count
789:Fake spike
764:End-around
628:West Coast
618:Smashmouth
544:Offensive
349:References
313:Joe Burrow
218:John Elway
109:Gene Mingo
50:sweep play
1089:Miami 4–3
911:Coverages
784:Fake punt
608:Pro-style
471:USA Today
317:Joe Mixon
79:. If the
1210:Category
1195:Category
1026:Flexbone
1021:Wishbone
656:Crossing
586:Multiple
581:Hurry-up
571:Air raid
546:strategy
390:9 August
294:Oklahoma
166:in 1910.
26:American
1156:Prevent
1141:7–1–2–1
1079:2-level
1046:Wildcat
1011:Pro set
1006:Shotgun
981:Split-T
902:Tampa 2
834:Pyramid
774:Spinner
769:Reverse
518:Systems
296:in the
227:Former
162:at the
127:of the
111:of the
99:of the
1151:Nickel
1031:Pistol
923:Double
885:Scheme
716:Sluggo
701:Screen
651:Corner
638:Routes
623:Spread
591:Option
554:Scheme
242:, the
186:27-10.
66:center
1170:Other
1136:7–2–2
1106:3–3–5
1041:Trips
949:Stunt
937:Other
853:Other
731:Wheel
726:Swing
711:Slant
646:Chair
1146:Dime
928:Zone
897:Zone
754:Draw
706:Seam
696:Post
686:Jerk
671:Flat
666:Drag
661:Curl
561:A-11
453:2021
392:2019
303:The
248:2006
189:The
144:snap
28:and
22:play
16:The
1131:6–2
1126:5–3
1121:5–2
1111:4–4
1101:3–4
1084:4–3
954:Spy
691:Out
681:Hot
676:Fly
238:In
212:,
208:In
169:In
24:in
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