According to the Baltimore Sun, one of the changes that Friedgen and Franklin are discussing in order to save their coaching jobs is to incorporate the option into the Terps offense. Curious about the option and its past success at the college level, I did a little digging and found this interesting tidbit. Did you know that the Stack I formation, with three backs lining up in back of the QB, is also known as the Maryland I. This is the option formation the Terps of the 50’s rode to success back in their heyday. Here’s the Wikipedia description:
The Maryland I (also known as the Stack I) is similar to the Power I except that instead of placing the third back to one side of the fullback, the fullback, third back, and tailback line up directly in front of each other (hence the term “Stack”). Obviously, this is a running-emphasis variant made popular by the Maryland Terrapins football team of the 1950s.
This is very innovative stuff. The Terps could line-up Robinson at QB with Scott, Meggett, and Douglas flanking him and running in every direction with each snap. What was old is at once new again. Hail, hail the return of the Maryland I!
You know it’s desparation time when coaches start incorporating the option.
Now they just need the players to implement their scheme. Bring me Ronald “Dutch” McGreevey and “Galloping Ghost” Parker!
What this offense needs is a return to simpler times, when men were men and they ran straight into other men. They need plays like Power Off Tackle and Fullback Dive. They need more violent scrums, where eyes are gouged and teeth are kicked in. What the Terps need is more whupass.