First things first, and all my opinion only. Obviously. But: Johnson's offense is the toughest option for anybody to run. That is because of the spacing -- the fullback is in the QB's hip pocket, better to burst into the line and force an instant decision from the defense -- no read and react here and for any comparison look at anybody running zone read or read option offenses; they could do it with a sundial. That is capped by quick motion in which the Aback is in motion -- to the side, legal -- minutely before the snap, the various blocking schemes and combinations, and the spacing between all of them required. There is no comparable option offense in the country that I am aware of, although a lot of coaches run "option" from the shotgun. As for high schools running this offense, a lot do. But if you have been to their games, and I have (a high school in my area ran it to get into state playoffs) you will not see, or rarely see, the triple option. A bit, yes. But mostly it is two-man option and from that, mostly, the QB keeping and cutting upfield. (A good HS play was what I think we call the load option, to the fullback. I saw several scores off that.) I did not see any HS QBs who could run the option well and throw the ball well. Sound familiar? As to Navy, no. the only QB Navy has had that i recall who was somewhat successful throwing the ball was Ricky Dobbs. And he was a good QB no doubt. But I assume we are talking about here a QB who can run, throw and run the 0ption. Give Dobbs a 2.5 out of 3 maybe. The rest of Navy's QBs have been on the keep it and flee model. Yes, all our QBs have had weaknesses, but Nesbitt I admired as a battler, was not a triple option QB, and could not throw the ball into the ocean from a whaleboat. He could throw it through the whaleboat, but ... Tevin Washington was not all that fast, not very strong nor quick -- and I am comparing all to football skills -- and was the poorest passer Johnson has had. (The first in-person pass I saw him throw was at Duke and I could not believe he was even on the team. Ducks flew better in their death spiral.) But: that kid could run the whole range of Johnson's options, and there are at least five or six. And because he could do that he scored a bunch because he made the right choice at the right time. Best overall? Thomas, easily. Pretty good with the options and the most daring of all of them, even Washington, too much so at times when his pitches sailed between defenders, very good on the edges and good enough between the tackles with the midline and despite a very funky motion, could sling it some. And the very best at winning late.
