ZE BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL WISHBONE: STILL MORE
Declare your love for the wishbone, and the ‘bone freaks come out of the woodwork. Reader Peter sends us the following email:
Dear Orson and Stranko,
It was an absolute pleasure to log on this morning and check out the video clip of Oklahoma running the ‘Bone. While fairly simple to execute, this offense was absolute deadly in its efficiency and effectiveness. As a long-time Colorado Buffaloes fan, even I have to admit that the Sooners’ wishbone attack was a beautiful thing to watch.
That said, I think you could have found a much better video clip to illustrate the mechanics of the offense. May I present to you QB Darian Hagan, circa 1989, making use of the ‘Bone offense to produce what many consider the greatest run in Colorado football history:
Late pitch! As usual, our readers prove to have a longer memory, better taste, and a longer reach into the archives than we do. And yes, Peter, that block by the fullback is just obscene. One minute his man’s there, and the next he’s an irrelevance.
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1
Coop says:
Was it Darian Hagen or Eric Bienemy that was connected to the LA Crips? One of them would not attend Nebraska because he could not wear red.
Of course, Bienemy was the one who ran Marcus Houston out of Boulder for being too good of a person. Houston will probably end up winning the Nobel Peace Prize or the Nobel for medicine in 25 years, but Bienemy made the right call.
I wonder how Bienemy has not been able to use his gang ties to get more talent at UCLA.
It must be because Carroll has Snoop hanging out with the team.
May 16th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
2
crabs says:
Great play – and a thing of beauty to watch.
Please tell me if I am wrong – but is that not a true “wishbone” formation? The wishbone I ran in HS, consisted of a fullback lined up directly behind the QB with 2 tailbacks lined up behind him equidistant apart.
The purpose of the 2 tailbacks (in our offense) was that the defense never knew which way the play would go.
May 16th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
3
Coop says:
Correct, crabs, just like Auburn did when they had Bo Jackson and Lionel James, or was it Joe Cribbs, back there.
Not picking on Orson, but the player who made that block that sprung Hagan was no more than 190 lbs. Fullbacks in the late 80s and/or early 90s were bigger than that, naturally.
May 16th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
4
hawkeye says:
Crabs, I believe you are correct. This looks more like the “power I” made famous by teams like SMU (pre-death penalty) and Nebraska. NB: this is not to be confused with the “stack I” run by Kensucky under Bill Curry. Abomination!
Call me a traditionalist, but I don’t even like to see guys in a 2-point stance in the “true” wishbone. Still, I love watching the option, in all its glory!
May 16th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
5
cowboycane says:
I concur.. that’s the power I… I call shenanigans.
May 16th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
6
Hook'em Tide says:
Why is the wishbone so obsolete? Purely because of defensive speed? Are all teams fast enough across the board to effectively counter it?
May 16th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
7
Coop says:
How did the Maryland I, three players all lined up directly behind the QB, work? Sometimes you would get that formation on NCAA Football, and I always wondered what to do with it.
This is not an answer, hook em, more one of the reasons, but Miami and FSU, in the 80s, started signing HS LBs and turning them into DEs, and HS Ss and turning them into LBs. In other words, they made it impossible to get outside due to their speed.
That did not stop the ‘94 or ‘95 Nebraska teams, but the option became less vaunted.
Also, who wants to be an option QB in college, assuming you have NFL aspirations?
Jamelle Holloway and Charles Thompson, had he stayed out of prison, were not going to the NFL to play QB. Those guys who could do it, wanted to play RB or WR or, most likely, DB, to make it to the NFL and I don’t blame them.
An option QB in the NFL would get decapitated via one missed block.
May 16th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
8
Hobnail_Boot says:
Coop-
The Maryland-I works most effectively when you’ve pounded your opponent into submission with FB and HB dives off-guard for 3-4 yards a pop, then you spring a counter off-tackle and take it to the house.
It’s also good to get your FB’s into the flat and run some pass-action. It’s a great formation to use if you’re starting a dynasty with a talent-deprived team.
May 16th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
9
rjgator says:
This offense was the “I-Bone” created by none other than Gerry Di’Nardo of Vanderbilt “Fame”.
He took it to Nashville and made Ronnie Gordon into a household name and then of course proceeded to run LSU’s program into the ground.
Just remember this when Bobby Johnson is the next hot coach for winning 5 games in 2 consecutive seasons for the Dores.
May 16th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
10
Out of Conference says:
Am I an ass for asking if if the pitch was actually a forward lateral?
May 16th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
11
Brewster Crew says:
Details and semantics aside on that Offset Maryland I, that was a block that will destroy the confidence of that DB/LB. That guy probably hung himself in the shower with his belt.
Oh, and does anybody else think that Hagen got the “Nice catch, Hayes. Don’t ever fuckin’ do it again.” treatment from the HC or OC? I’ve threatened QBs with a ballpine hammer and their non-throwing hand for pitching the ball 5 yards past the LOS.
May 16th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
12
hawkeye says:
Hook’em – the ‘bone met it’s demise due to a number of factors. Defensive speed (see OU vs. Miami, mid-80’s style) certainly played a role. The most important factor, however, was the rule change around what constitutes offensive holding. By allowing linemen to extend their arms fully (see Samuels, Chris–especially the highlight vs. Alex Brown circa 1999), it became much easier to maintain a block during pass protection. This enabled the pass revolution led by Miami in the ’80’s. These quick-strike offenses could put a team behind in a hurry, and given the wishbone’s notorious ineffectiveness when playing from behind, *poof* it was obsolete.
May 16th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
13
Cooper says:
McCartney called this form of the wishbone the “I-bone.” It’s not a power I because it features a wingback (in addition to a fullback and tailback) that usually goes in motion. In this clip, I believe it’s Mike Pritchard, #9.
May 16th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
14
Kerwin4two says:
2 other factors/changes in the early 90’s changed the landscape.
1) they moved the hashes closer in which balanced the field and kept the wide side of the field from being so wide.
2) they changed the rules that prevented fumbles from being advanced by the defending team. This hurt a lot of option teams that before had been willing to concede fumbles turned over at the spot for the possibility of big chunks of yardage. I will never forget those Switzer teams that would go 700/70/7 – Yards/points/fumbles.
May 16th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
15
Stacey Keibler Luvs Me says:
USC Trojan Homer Dept:
The ‘bone is or was ok. But, it does not compare to USC’s Student Body Right (”SBR”), which is real he-man college football.
Everyone, including the sportswriters in the stands, knows that the SBR is coming, but the defense cannot stop it and gets steam-rolled. Play after play after play. When it is working it almost drives me to Arnold Shvvvartzenegger weightlifting levels of joy.
(Maybe I have nightmares of when Bush tried to lateral the ball back in the Texas game, sort of ‘bonish, and lost the MNC title for USC that year.)
May 16th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
16
Herb says:
The Wishbone is obsolete because of defensive speed. Too many players too close to the center of the offense. The option still works from a spread formation though (see White, Pat; Tebow, Tim; Ham, Tracy).
Please who say the option is dead conveniently ignore Rodriguez, Meyer, Johnson coached teams. Paul Johnson’s Georgia Southern teams would put up like 500 yards of offense against the likes of Oregon St. and Georgia with Div. 1-AA talent.
And you can always find a Antwan Randle El/Brad Smith/Michael Vick type who wants to play QB in college despite no chance of being a real NFL QB (yeah, I said it Mr. Vick).
May 16th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
17
Bill says:
be honest, you brokeback bastard bloggers,
the only reason you like the wishbone is because those who utilize it are called ‘wishboners’, isn’t it???
p.s. i wish i knew how to quit you guys!!!
May 16th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
18
Coop says:
Tracy Ham. I just vomited in my mouth.
I still have nightmares about him from 1985.
May 16th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
19
Whitey says:
OOC -
I just zapruder’d the hell out of the thing and I think you’re right. Hagan let’s go at the 41 and the RB (Flannigan) catches it at the 40. But at game speed, forget it.
During the Tony Rice years at ND, I always remember hearing that the RB was NEVER supposed to give up on getting a pitch in a properly executed option.
In that regard, it’s a hell of a run.
May 16th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
20
BYOB says:
Foward lateral and he steps out of bounds? For shame Buffaloes fan, for shame.
May 16th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
21
DHC says:
Was that play on fifth down?
May 16th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
22
NewAZTiger says:
The rule changes, increased speed, and the 4-3 defense crafted at Miami effectively killed the Wishbone. As HS offense switched to the more balanced systems, players proficient in the system also decreased, limiting a college’s recruiting options.
IMHO, one of the reasons it has taken Nebraska so long to recover from the switch from the wishbone is that their recruiting grounds had to switch the O as well. 4 years right there just to get HS players familiar with the WCO.
May 16th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
23
stlsmitty says:
I wondered the same thing DHC. I still have the photos from the Columbia Tribune. They show that Charles Johnson was down (flat on his fucking back) short of the goalline even on 5th down.
They would have needed a sixth down if the refs weren’t worthless, paid off by Mcartney’s cult/church, etc. Bastard Hippies. Stick to rock climbing . . .and give back you your NC you Promise Keeping hypocrite McCartney.
May 16th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
24
LSUJoshua says:
Those 22 comments and video I just observed give me a hard on the likes of which the girls I had cheese grits this morning at 2am can’t compete.
3 months and change. Damn you summer.
May 17th, 2007 at 2:29 am
25
seGT says:
Josh @ 2:29am’s comment seems like it has a story behind it. A combination of hard-ons, girls, and cheese grits at two in the morning sounds epic.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:06 am
26
LSUJoshua says:
And boobs. But boobs are almost always involved.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:21 am
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CommishCH says:
clearing up a couple things:
-The Hagan didn’t go to nebraska b/c of red has morphed into an urban legend. Hagan said years ago that a couple of the bangers in the ‘hood mad a crack or two about the husker colors. DH wasn’t in the gang, no connections, other than living in their area
-Bieniemy is the RB coach with the Vikings now. He and Houston had issues. I wouldn’t say he ran MH out of town, but he didn’t help.
-Pritchard was the WB in this offense. He was a helluva WR, played in the NFL for some time.
May 17th, 2007 at 10:14 am
28
Beergut says:
Lemme see:
As previously noted, that is the I-bone. It is somewhat humorous to see people who profess to “looooove the Wishbone, want it to have my children, it is so AWESOME, it rul3z!!1!”, yet can’t identiy the formation to save their lives.
People, it is called the Wishbone for a reason; it LOOKS like a wishbone.
As for Darian Hagan, someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t he come from Locke HS in Los Angeles? Locke is in an area that is controlled by the Crips.
Using gang affiliation to explain why he didn’t go to Nebraska sounds like typical ‘husker sour grapes to me.
Perhaps they’d like to explain why that safety completely blew his assignment, and didn’t tackle Hagan, forcing the pitch early?
May 17th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
29
MP says:
Cal got Hagan’s kid and he’s supposedly a stud. And another reason the bone and option became obsolete is recruiting. Kids were hammered every day that if they went to school x they wouldn’t be ready for the league. That said, the best team ever was that 95 (?) Nebraska team that smoked Florida they were unreal.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:11 am
30
Brent says:
Please, you idiots.
Anyone who says that the wishbone, or any type of option can’t be run effectively is a moron. I don’t give a crap about defensive speed.
All you need to have a successful running game is a badass o-line that can take out those fast boys on defense. The fact of the matter is, offenses have gotten to be too much about pretty boy spin moves. Whatever happened to lowering the shoulder and punishing the crap out of someone?!
June 5th, 2007 at 12:42 pm