Four Tips to Make You a Better Option QB - JohnDoe8865's Blog

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Four Tips to Make You a Better Option QB Stuck

Posted on July 31, 2013 at 10:00 AM.

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The following tips are intended as general tips and do not contain any high level strategies or specific 'money' option plays. The additions to NCAA 14 in the option game make it a much more viable game plan and those who haven't had much experience running the option in past years, may find some value here.

4. Get familiar with the controls - I know this sounds like common sense, but particularly with this year's additions, you need to know exactly what controls make things happen. The shovel option plays in particular add a new wrinkle. On these plays you're gonna be using the left/right bumpers (or L1 and R1 on PS3). It's important to note that if you flip the play, you also flip the controls. On dive options you're gonna want to be comfortable with when and how long to hold down A (or X on PS3) to give the ball to the back (or keep it). These controls aren't rocket science but the last thing you want to do when you're trying to run the option is think about what button/trigger controls what action.

3. Know your personnel - Again, this sounds so obvious, but go ahead and check out the ratings of your QB, HB, FB, TE, and OL. You need to know where the strongest run blockers are on your offensive line and run plays behind those guys with the highest RBL ratings. Check the RBL ratings on your TEs too. The speed, agility, and carry rating of your QB are going to be important for QB keepers and the RBs with high speed, agility, carry, and break tackle ratings are going to be your most effective backs, especially on outside runs such as the speed option. For teams that run more traditional FB dives out of the triple option, your FB should have a high carry rating and good break tackle ratings. You need to know your players' abilities to run the most effective plays out of the option.

2. Know who you are supposed to be reading - Depending on whether you're running a simple hand-off option, a speed option, a triple option with a dive play, or a more involved shovel option you will have different reads; different players who you need to key on and watch both before the snap and as you snap the ball and start running the play. These will be defensive ends, outside linebackers, and defensive tackles depending on the type of option play you're running. Practice is the best way to get comfortable with this. Go into practice mode and run the various option plays that you want to use regularly until you feel comfortable with your reads.

1. Use the Nike Skills Trainer - Rarely are tutorials truly useful for both beginners and longtime fans, but the new Nike Skills Trainer is an exception. I can't emphasize how good this is for learning the option play. If you're having trouble running the option, this is where you should be spending your time. There are a few of different tutorials on both regular read options, triple options, and pitch/shovel pass plays. Get in there and practice! It really works and it's a very effective and fun tool in this year's game.

Those are my top four basic tips for improving your game as a read option QB. Add your tips in the comments!