Nacho wrote:http://clempsonfootball.blogspot.com/2009/06/gt-defensing-flexbone-basics.html
i am most sorry. my humiliation is complete. excuse me while i fall on my dagger.
Interesting comment at the bottom of that link claiming Paul Johnson's offense grew from trying to add option running to a run & shoot offense. I'd be interesting to read more on this if true. Hard to see how this can be accurate with as little throwing as they do, but maybe that was because of talent at Navy. Anyone watched any Georgia Tech this year?:
By the way, you should know that PJ's version of this formation evolved differently and separately from Hatfield and Deberry breaking the wishbone at Air Force.
Georgia Southern was using the run-and-shoot out of the double-slot in 1983-84, and Erk Russell wanted to run the ball out of the I. Johnson talked him into letting him merge the option and other rushing plays into the run-and-shoot, they moved the slots in to make it a more run-oriented than pass-oriented offense, and that's how the Hambone was born.
There was a third evolution of the "flexbone", out of the Wing-T, moving the halfback up into the slotback position. Then if you add option you have the Mike
Ayers Wofford Wingbone.
They've all merged to become pretty similar. Compared to the Deberry/Hatfield flexbone, the real differences are that the Wingbone uses narrower line splits (2') and the Johnson school completely eschews TE's and retains more run-and-shoot pass packages. PJ hasn't passed much since the Hawaii days, but Cal Poly running the same offense threw for close to 200 yards a game over the last two seasons.
Anyway this is a small point but I thought it might be of interest. Good luck with two-a-days and MTSU and we'll see y'all on the Flats in about 6 weeks!