Kansas Jayhawks Triple Option and Lead Option Playbook

Kansas was a great offense and extremely efficient in 2023. They were led by Coach Lance Leipold and Andy Kotelnicki. They used numerous formations and many shifts and motions to get great results. They often forced teams to get generic which often led to getting zone coverages on the other side of the ball. They would run some wildcat, wacky formations with many unbalanced looks that kept defenses off balance.

They also had an excellent zone read and option component. They love to run triple option off zone out of the gun and lead option. This was similar to the Coastal Carolina offense in 2021(see my other posts) which ran a ton of wide zone triple. Having that option component kept teams on edge and really forced defensive teams to be extremely gap conscious but also stressed the defensive backs with option responsibilities in addition to playing pass coverage.

Some Sstats for 2023!

They were top 20 in several categories and had an outstanding year. They

Let’s look at some of the numbers

Category Result Rank

Scoring 33.7 points per game 20th

Rushing 5.3 yards per carry 10th

Rushing 202 per game 10th

Passing 10.1 yards per pass 2nd

Let’s take a look at some of the concepts.

Wide Zone Triple

They block the triple 2 ways.

The first time they block it with the x wr and Tackle swapping responsibilities. The tackle rips inside then goes and blocks the CB.

I have the dive key and pitch key labeled.

The tackle blocks the CB and the WR cracks on the LB

Wide Film

Tite film

In the 2nd clip they run it more off inside zone with the h back leading. This is more of the way Coastal Carolina used to run it!

They are in 21 personnel. The defense shifts and overplays the TE side. The defense gives them a 3 man surface to the boundary opposite 3x1. They read the DE for dive. He bends hard, exploiting the 3 man surface to the weakside.

De is bending hard. H is leading. See it start to develop.

Defense was in man so the backside LB is running for pitch.

film

Give Read

Below is an example of where they are reading the DE for dive and the read tells the qb to give it.

DE stays square so the QB gives the football.

Film

Wide Zone Triple vs Texas

Kansas had great success on the 3 times they ran it vs Texas. See the 3 clips below on the concept.

Here are some clips when they ran true triple vs Texas.

film

Vs Texas Play Action Concepts off Wide Zone Triple

Concept #1 bluff and go by the H back

Concept #2 Sneak Route(QB misses the read)

Film clips of 2 plays above

Pistol Orbit Motion Triple

Vs Cincinnati They run triple from the pistol. The defense is in an odd front and both the dive and pitch key come down to play the dive. This exposes them and they get the QB on the edge for the nice TD run.

OLB comes down hard as well as the pitch defender!

The QB is on the edge with no support.

Film