The option run or option is a designed play in American football and Canadian football. In the simplest version of this play, the quarterback receives the ball and runs either to the right or left, accompanied by an additional offensive player (typically a running back or a fullback). As the defense moves to tackle the quarterback, the quarterback may choose to laterally pass the ball to his accompanying player. If the defense moves to engage that accompanying player, the quarterback may keep the ball and thus advance it himself. This gives the quarterback the option of two different actions during a run.
The option run may be made more complicated by adding additional players (usually another accompanying player), blocking schemes, or feints.
The option offense heavily features the option run and many different variations of the play.
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Famous quotes containing the words option and/or run:
“Our passional nature not only lawfully may, but must, decide an option between propositions, whenever it is a genuine option that cannot by its nature be decided on intellectual grounds; for to say, under such circumstances, “Do not decide, but leave the question open,” is itself a passional decision—just like deciding yes or no—and is attended with the same risk of losing the truth.”
—William James (1842–1910)
“It is very rare that you meet with obstacles in this world which the humblest man has not faculties to surmount. It is true we may come to a perpendicular precipice, but we need not jump off, nor run our heads against it. A man may jump down his own cellar stairs, or dash his brains out against his chimney, if he is mad.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)