Hoosiers plan to take triple option head-on

Very few teams in the country run the triple option attack as their primary form of offense.

When they do, the teams they face struggle to stop it.

Saturday afternoon, the IU football team (2-4) will have to defend the triple option as the Hoosiers face the Naval Academy (3-3) in Annapolis, Md.

“We’ve been working on it for a long time, but it’s a totally different offense,” IU Co-defensive Coordinator Mike Ekeler said. “With their speed, their linemen coming down low on the cut-blocks and all of the angles they create to mess with your eyes, it all comes down to fundamentals on Saturday.”

Only four teams in the country utilize the triple option on a consistent basis: Navy, Army, Air Force and Georgia Tech.

Most of Navy’s plays begin with a quarterback under center, with two running backs to his left and right behind him and a fullback straight back.

Each play, the quarterback makes the decision to either toss it to one of the running backs, who are typically in motion prior to the snap, hand it off to the fullback, run it himself or pass the ball.

Most plays unfold faster in a triple option attack than in a typical offense.

With an undersized offensive line that is not as physical as a Big Ten defensive line, the Midshipmen’s strategy focuses on utilizing cut blocks, which aims to stop the opposing linemen so space for the option attack opens.

“It’s a tough offense to defend,” senior defensive tackle Larry Black, Jr., said. “You have to defend the perimeter plays and beat the chop block. We’ll need to be smart, keep our assignments and be disciplined.”

Since the Hoosiers had not seen the likes of Navy’s offense before, during the offseason, IU Coach Kevin Wilson traveled to Colorado Springs, Colo., to watch Air Force run its form of the triple option in practice.

From that experience, he implemented the triple option into IU’s practices dating back to this spring so its defense could be better prepared for Navy.

Since then, the Hoosiers have practiced against the unusual form of offense.

However, the team knows it will still be a challenge to stop it.

“We’ve done a bit of preparing, but we don’t do it to the extent of their package,” Ekeler said. “There’s a lot more involved that’s new to our guys. We had a good pace, but from there, there’s a lot to get ready for.”

As if IU does not have enough to deal with already, the Hoosiers’ defense allows a Big Ten-worst 221.2 yards per game, and nearly 78 percent of Navy’s offensive plays are runs.

The Hoosier defense will also have to play with an increased risk of injury.

The Midshipmen’s cut-blocking techniques are dangerous enough that, at any moment, if the defensive line is not prepared, a player’s knees can be blown out.

Black admitted he is afraid this could happen Saturday.

However, he and his coaches said they cannot afford to be timid against Navy’s offense, especially not when its triple option form of attack has the potential to put a dent into IU’s defense.

“It’s kind of risky to be out there, but it’s a risk worth taking for the reward,” Black said. “We’ve got to be prepared for what they do and what they throw at us.”