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© St. Petersburg Times, published January 3, 2002
TAMPA -- As a defensive coach at Kansas State from 1990 to 1995, South Florida coach Jim Leavitt went up against the Nebraska option attack six times. So the Times asked Leavitt if he could give a briefing on what it takes to slow the mighty Cornhuskers.
Leavitt held court in his office for 15 minutes, breaking down the Nebraska offense. Though he emphasized that the Cornhuskers can do much more than run the option, he said there's no question it's the core of their attack. And the staple of the Nebraska option is a play he calls the abort or belly option.
"They love the belly play," Leavitt said. "They've been running it for years and years and years and years and years. This is the play (Miami has) got to stop. This is their heart and soul, one of their key plays they've had since the beginning of time."
Leavitt prefers to use the 50 defense, a 5-2 with five down linemen and two linebackers, against Nebraska as opposed to a standard 4-3, which Miami typically uses. Why? Because Leavitt said the most important element to stopping the belly option is getting the strongside defensive lineman -- either the defensive end in the 4-3 or the outside linebacker on the strong side (tight end side) in the 50 -- to "blow up" the play. By bringing the strongside 'backer up to the line in the 50, he can beat the pulling guard to the spot and disrupt things.
"The quarterback reverses out ... and the guard pulls around and he'll seal this SAM (strongside) linebacker. The guard will either kick him out or log (engage) him. If they kick him out, they'll give it to the fullback and he'll go right through there and he's gone."
In the 50, Leavitt's strongside 'backer becomes a fifth defensive lineman, right up on the tight end. The tight end will turn inside and seal the defensive end while the offensive tackle seals the defensive tackle. That leaves the strongside 'backer free for a moment. The guard will pull around the tackle, take aim at the strongside 'backer and ... whoever wins that battle has the advantage.
"The key is the SAM 'backer, he's got to just absolutely go right into the knees of the guard and just blow it up and cause a pile," Leavitt said.
The strongside 'backer busting through can eliminate the fullback (option No. 1) as well as quarterback keeper (option No. 2) and ruin the timing of the pitch to the tailback (option No. 3). With Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Eric Crouch, option No. 2 has been good to Nebraska.
Beyond that, it's up to every player to do his job. If the nose tackle, defensive tackle and defensive end hold their ground, it can remove the fullback option. If the middle linebacker sidesteps the center, he can get a shot at the fullback or quarterback.
When the ball is pitched to the tailback, the game is over, no more options. Defenders must shed their blocks and make the tackle.
In the 4-3, which Miami is likely to use, the blocking schemes are slightly different (the tight end picks up a linebacker instead of the defensive end), but Leavitt said the key player still is the lineman on the end of the strong side of the formation. His ability to beat the guard, knife into the backfield and disrupt the play sets the tone. "The D end has got to come like a son of a gun. Just like the SAM 'backer in the 50, he has to cause a wreck right here," Leavitt said. "If he doesn't, they're out the gate."
That aside, Leavitt said the most important players are the defensive backs, who must do it all. With Crouch's improved passing, they can't overcommit and get beat on long pass plays, but they are essential to helping stuff rushing plays such as the belly option.
"This is their key play. It has worked for years, and I still see them run it," Leavitt said. "It's a tough, tough play.
"At some time in this game the fullback will keep this ball and go out the gate, and you'll go, 'Gosh dang, that's that same play.' "