For anyone struggling with the option game...

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  • RyanLeaf16
    MVP
    • Dec 2007
    • 1003

    #1

    For anyone struggling with the option game...

    ...I too am having a hard time "un-wiring" my brain from the old controls of give vs keep. No matter how many times I tell myself the controls pre-snap and make the correct read, my hands aren't responding lol

    So, maybe this will work for you. You can say this audibly or to yourself as the play begins, but think of the button presses as 1. Dive, 2. Keep, 3. Pitch

    Dive nothing more is needed. Keep, press "A" or "X" depending on your system. Pitch, press LB or L1 - again depending on your system.

    Example, say you're running midline, you're looking for the playside DL outside the OG, not necessarily the DE. You snap, he crashes, literally say "Keep" to yourself and it might help you "re-wire" yourself to make the transition on the new controls easier. If he sits, say "Dive" and you don't have to press anything.

    I guess the "order of operations" approach might help some. I am going to try it when I get home, thought some on here might find it useful.
  • firesloth
    Rookie
    • Apr 2007
    • 79

    #2
    Re: For anyone struggling with the option game...

    I'm having exactly that issue. I screwed it up almost every time. And when my QB kept it, he was pasted and fumbled almost every time.

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    • TCrouch
      MVP
      • Jul 2002
      • 4819

      #3
      Re: For anyone struggling with the option game...

      I actually think I've struggled LESS with this version than past versions, oddly.


      I saw a video earlier this week where they explained the integration was always backwards...you're assuming you will hand it off unless you decide to pull it.


      Keeping that in mind, thinking of the button as a "pull it" has made it pretty seamless. I either hike it and hand it off automatically, or after I made my read and decide to pull it, just hit the button to do so.


      I don't run a lot of pitches, though. Usually just RPOs or your dime store read option, so I am probably not confusing myself with combining handoff/keep with different pitch types or shovel passes lol

      Comment

      • RyanLeaf16
        MVP
        • Dec 2007
        • 1003

        #4
        Re: For anyone struggling with the option game...

        Originally posted by firesloth
        I'm having exactly that issue. I screwed it up almost every time. And when my QB kept it, he was pasted and fumbled almost every time.
        Yep, just thinking it wasn't working for me. So I'm gonna try it later with the "Dive, Keep, Pitch" exercise and see if saying it while the play progresses helps me to kind of create a new muscle memory on the controls.

        Sounds stupid, but a lot of people have been doing the same thing for 10+years, it's hard to just "un-do" it even if you know you're not supposed to.

        Comment

        • RyanLeaf16
          MVP
          • Dec 2007
          • 1003

          #5
          Re: For anyone struggling with the option game...

          Originally posted by TCrouch
          I actually think I've struggled LESS with this version than past versions, oddly.


          I saw a video earlier this week where they explained the integration was always backwards...you're assuming you will hand it off unless you decide to pull it.


          Keeping that in mind, thinking of the button as a "pull it" has made it pretty seamless. I either hike it and hand it off automatically, or after I made my read and decide to pull it, just hit the button to do so.


          I don't run a lot of pitches, though. Usually just RPOs or your dime store read option, so I am probably not confusing myself with combining handoff/keep with different pitch types or shovel passes lol
          Really, the button-mapping now does make more logical sense b/c the first option is to hand it off, so it would make sense that you don't press anything, but I am just having a hell of time stopping myself lol, so I'm gonna try it and hopefully I'll have it down soon enough. The reads are easy, it's just making my brain forget what I knew before lol

          Comment

          • PsychedelicTrip
            Rookie
            • Jul 2024
            • 33

            #6
            Re: For anyone struggling with the option game...

            When i run RPO and keep and throw the ball, I always get a penalty for illegal man downfield. Anyone else having this issue? I'm playing on All American difficulty.

            Comment


            • IlluminatusUIUC
              IlluminatusUIUC commented
              Editing a comment
              I usually check to make sure there's no OL without a DL in front of him. Otherwise they tend to charge upfield run blocking and its hard to get the pass out before they go too far.
          • RyanLeaf16
            MVP
            • Dec 2007
            • 1003

            #7
            Re: For anyone struggling with the option game...

            Originally posted by PsychedelicTrip
            When i run RPO and keep and throw the ball, I always get a penalty for illegal man downfield. Anyone else having this issue? I'm playing on All American difficulty.
            The RPO in-game is QUICK. Almost too quick. I've only run a couple of RPO plays, but because of the reason you're describing, I make my decision before the snap. If I look out to the boundary and I see that I've got three WRs and two DBs on one side of the RPO, it's an automatic pass for me. If I see no numbers advantage or it's even, I just run it. The read in my opinion is just too quick if you need to throw that you'll likely run into that more than you like.

            Comment

            • WizHype
              Just started!
              • Sep 2025
              • 1

              #8
              Originally posted by RyanLeaf16
              ...I too am having a hard time "un-wiring" my brain from the old controls of give vs keep. No matter how many times I tell myself the controls pre-snap and make the correct read, my hands aren't responding lol

              So, maybe this will work for you. You can say this audibly or to yourself as the play begins, but think of the button presses as 1. Dive, 2. Keep, 3. Pitch

              Dive nothing more is needed. Keep, press "A" or "X" depending on your system. Pitch, press LB or L1 - again depending on your system.

              Example, say you're running midline, you're looking for the playside DL outside the OG, not necessarily the DE. You snap, he crashes, literally say "Keep" to yourself and it might help you "re-wire" yourself to make the transition on the new controls easier. If he sits, say "Dive" and you don't have to press anything.

              I guess the "order of operations" approach might help some. I am going to try it when I get home, thought some on here might find it useful. The option game can be a tough nut to crack, especially when you're trying to mix up your offense and confuse the defense. But once you get the timing down, it feels like you’re in control of the field. It’s all about learning the right reads and adjusting on the fly. While you’re mastering your playbook, if you're looking to relax and have some fun, you might want to check out this instant withdrawal casino site go to https://casinoofthekings.ca/instant-withdrawal-casinos/ - It offers fast payouts, so you can cash out your winnings in no time! Whether you’re into slots, blackjack, or poker, this place has a wide variety of games that’ll keep you entertained. Give it a go when you need a break from the gridiron grind.
              It took me a minute to adjust too. One thing that helped me was simplifying the reads. Instead of overthinking, I focus on just the first defender I need to read. If he crashes, I keep it; if he stays, I hand it off. This approach keeps things straightforward and reduces mistakes.

              Comment

              • Bremser_Rules
                Pro
                • Aug 2004
                • 583

                #9
                I just wish there was a millisecond more time to pull the ball out of the belly after deciding to keep it. There's almost no time to react.
                They call me Mr. Thread Cooler

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