NDL Forum

So I, along with everyone else apparently lol, am going to try and run a little spread option this season. I figure most that do so are going to use the Oregon book, which I'll probably do so as well.

But I was just curious if anyone, looking at you Twista, has tried a variety of spread type books that know if there is a comparable, but somewhat different book or books out there.


Also, just in case my spread option fails miserably, and it probably will, what are the good passing books?

Any playbook with slants, posts ,corners, outs,stop and go, etc. you'll be fine.

Create your own.

ReignOnU wrote:Create your own.

That's sorta the plan, but it would still be nice to have a base book to start with, and I'm wondering what's out there other than Oregon.

shel311 wrote:

ReignOnU wrote:Create your own.

That's sorta the plan, but it would still be nice to have a base book to start with, and I'm wondering what's out there other than Oregon.

My only issue with Oregon is that it's 100% shot gun. I like to use wing formations and the pistol as well. TCU (the team I drafted) has a great starting point. In the previous 2 versions, I've actually started with Air Force or Georgia Tech. The last 2 years they had a very wide flex formation as their goal line. Of course, if you don't like flex, this isn't a great way to go.

Overall, when I make my playbooks, I used to look for only the key features that were proprietary to that teams original. (like the goal line flex or Maryland I goal line if that's your thing). Then, I would nuke the rest of the playbook and start with just those few nuances. In previous seasons, my playbook resembled something that had 4-5 flex formations, 4-5 pistol formations, 4-5 run heavy shotgun formations (Gator Heavy, F Wing, Split, etc), at least 1 wildcat formation, 4-5 aggressive passing formations (4 wide sets) and at least 1 5 wide set. The 5 wide set always had the motion option.. and many of the 4-5 other passing formations did as well. I always have the max number of plays in the playbook.

Coming off of that last note... I'm considering changing my theory on defensive playbooks. In the past, I would build my own 425 or 335 that only had the plays I wanted to use, to make selecting my plays much faster. I'd typically have about 150 plays at most. With the weird game play this season, I'm considering making 1 monster defensive playbook that has as much packed into it as I possible can. My thinking is that most games, I'll stick to 1 base formation (maybe 425 works better vs 1 team and 335 vs another), so I shouldn't have to jump back and forth. I haven't set it up yet, but as long as the formation order isn't too wacky, that seems like the smart move.

shel311 wrote:

ReignOnU wrote:Create your own.

That's sorta the plan, but it would still be nice to have a base book to start with, and I'm wondering what's out there other than Oregon.

Its sort of obvious,

Auburn, Clemson, Miss St. Nebraska .. Schools known to run the spread option type game.
ASU, TCU , Arizona has some nice things sprinkled in

Ohio St has a few plays here and there ..

Passing pbs

the Air Raid teams, A&M, WVU, WST, Oklahoma St, Cal,
RnS - SMU
then there is Georgia Tech which mixes Option with the RNS with the flexbone

Then there is the pistol option game - Nevada

But best way is build your own.. can be a bit time consuming but once you figure out what you like to do, and plan to do, definitely the best way to go.

Good stuff, now I just need the time to do take on such an undertaking as creating my own book lol.

ReignOnU wrote:My only issue with Oregon is that it's 100% shot gun

Same here, I like a couple of Ace or IForms, so I'll most likely work off of that Oregon book or something similar.

shel311 wrote:

ReignOnU wrote:Create your own.

That's sorta the plan, but it would still be nice to have a base book to start with, and I'm wondering what's out there other than Oregon.

I started with Ole Miss. They have some awesome formations with some flex, twin backs, pistol, etc. I took that and updated some new 5 wide to that and added a few more passing plays. But that book has every combo of option available out of the gun.

The Maryland I is unstoppable near the goal line.

Almost FB dive cheapish!

Cnasty wrote:The Maryland I is unstoppable near the goal line.

Almost FB dive cheapish!

Not cheap...Allow me to illustrate.

Was kidding.

People freak out about the FB dive.

Cnasty wrote:Was kidding.

People freak out about the FB dive.

i guess i....

shel311 wrote:So I, along with everyone else apparently lol, am going to try and run a little spread option this season.

im not

ajalves wrote:

shel311 wrote:So I, along with everyone else apparently lol, am going to try and run a little spread option this season.

im not

+1.

ajalves wrote:

shel311 wrote:So I, along with everyone else apparently lol, am going to try and run a little spread option this season.

im not

ok

shel311 wrote:

ajalves wrote:

shel311 wrote:So I, along with everyone else apparently lol, am going to try and run a little spread option this season.

im not

ok

Shel change your team helmet avatar, I keep thinking I'm posting stuff

dealer4014 wrote:

shel311 wrote:

ajalves wrote:

shel311 wrote:So I, along with everyone else apparently lol, am going to try and run a little spread option this season.

im not

ok

Shel change your team helmet avatar, I keep thinking I'm posting stuff

I read this and thought shel was talking to himself for a sec.

Cnasty wrote:People freak out about the FB dive.

might just be my guy or a glitch in the game but my fb dive on one of my formations doesn't work.

my QB will turn and the fb is gone and I get crushed in the backfield.

DRiccio21 wrote:

Cnasty wrote:People freak out about the FB dive.

might just be my guy or a glitch in the game but my fb dive on one of my formations doesn't work.

my QB will turn and the fb is gone and I get crushed in the backfield.

I've had this happen on a different play, it is a PA out of shotgun split backs. The icons never come up and the qb just gets smashed.

If you're looking for a good passing book, UK's new OC is Neal Brown, Texas Tech's OC from the past few years. He ran more plays per time of possession than any team in the nation, even Oregon. The book is half shotgun, and half pistol.

I took that base book and edited it to have different shotgun/pistol formations and added in a lot more options (took out a lot of the PA/screen stuff), but it's a very good base book. However, only goal line is run from under center, so if you need anything where he takes the snap under center you'll have to add it.