The Flexbone Offense
The Flexbone offense is a disciplined, option-based rushing system built on reads, precision, and assignment football. While many modern offenses rely on spacing and passing, the Flexbone wins by forcing defenders to make decisions after the snap — and punishing them when they are wrong.
The offense traces its roots back to the split-back veer offenses of the 1960s, particularly those developed by coaches such as Bill Yeoman at the University of Houston. These early option teams learned they did not need to block every defender — they could read them instead. By leaving key defenders unblocked, the quarterback could choose the best ball carrier in real time.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, programs looking for greater perimeter speed evolved the veer into a new formation. By aligning two slotbacks just outside the tackles and placing a fullback directly behind the quarterback, the modern Flexbone formation was created. The alignment allowed offenses to attack inside, outside, and deep without changing personnel.
The system became nationally recognized through the United States service academies, most notably the United States Air Force Academy under coach Fisher DeBerry and later the United States Naval Academy under coach Paul Johnson. These programs faced a consistent size and recruiting disadvantage compared to major college opponents, so they relied on execution and assignment football rather than physical dominance. The Flexbone allowed them to control the clock, limit possessions, and compete with more athletic teams. Their sustained success demonstrated that the offense was not just a niche scheme, but a complete system capable of winning at the highest level of college football.
Flexbone Base Formation
The Triple Option — The Foundation of the Offense
Every part of the Flexbone grows from one concept: the Triple Option.
On a single play, the quarterback has three potential ball carriers:
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Dive (Fullback/B-Back)- The quickest hitting phase. Attacks inside before the defense can react.
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Quarterback Keep- If the dive defender commits inside, the quarterback replaces him in the running lane.
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Pitch (Slotback/A-Back)- If the force defender attacks the quarterback, the ball is pitched outside.
The defense must stop three plays at the same time — but only one is actually run.
Ashley Ingram – Head Coach, Carson-Newman
Ashley Ingram became Carson-Newman’s head football coach in 2023 after spending 16 seasons at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he served primarily as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator in one of college football’s premier triple-option programs. During his time at Navy, the Midshipmen were consistently among the nation’s top rushing offenses and earned multiple bowl victories and Commander-in-Chief’s Trophies. In his first season leading the Eagles, Ingram guided Carson-Newman to a division title, playoff appearance, and a top-five national rushing attack.
Navy Development of Offensive Linemen
Learn how one of the most consistent rushing attacks in college football builds dominant offensive linemen. In this clinic, Navy’s teaching progression breaks down step-by-step fundamentals — stance, first step, hand placement, leverage, combo blocks, veer, and scoop techniques — using practical drills like boards, shields, bags, and on-air reps.
This is a complete daily individual period plan you can install immediately to develop disciplined, assignment-sound linemen for option football.
Click to watch and install the Navy O-Line development system into your program.
Navy Trap & Variations
See how the Navy option offense punishes defenses that overplay the dive and quarterback. This clinic covers the 32/33 rule system, how to identify defensive shades, and when to call trap to create explosive inside runs. Detailed game film shows exactly how the Midshipmen use trap as a constraint play within the triple option.
Perfect for coaches who want answers when defenses start squeezing, slanting, or chasing the veer.
Navy Zone Option
Learn how Navy blends zone concepts with option football to attack modern defenses. This clinic walks through the double option progression, crush load adjustments, and edge reactions — showing exactly how to handle teams that scrape, blitz, or overload the perimeter. Complete with game film cut-ups, you’ll see how the zone option creates simple reads and explosive plays without changing your backfield.
Click below for a detailed look at three important phases of the Flexbone Offense
Coach Geller is in his 6th year serving as the Centennial Athletic Coordinator and he is a member of the original faculty that opened the school in 2010. Coach Geller has served as the Athletic Coordinator and Head Football Coach all six years at Centennial. In the video you will see a detailed look at Triple Option rules. The counter off option and a variety of game film of all three plays, Option, Counter Option and Trap.
In this video, Coach Geller gives a detailed look at how to run Midline Triple out of shotgun. He does a great job breaking down the blocking schemes vs odd and even defense. Geller also provides detail of running Midline Triple vs 2 high and 1 high coverages.
Coach Geller gives an awesome insight into how he incorporates Air Raid philosophies into his Flexbone system. This video dives into Verticals, Smash, Sail, and Wheel route concepts.