Playbooks

Freeze Option Rt

Pistol·Ace Slot·12

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

In 1 playbook

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Breakdown

Freeze Option Rt is a triple option style run play out of Pistol Ace Slot that attacks the edge to the right side with a freeze fake designed to hold linebackers at the mesh point. The blocking scheme pulls the backside guard and reach blocks the frontside to seal the edge while the QB reads the first unblocked defender off the line to decide between the give, keep, or pitch. This is a run play, not a pass concept, so your primary read progression is dive key first (does the defensive end crash down on the dive), then pitch key second (does the alley defender or force player commit to the QB, which dictates whether you keep it up inside or pitch to the trailing back).

Defensive Reads

Key the play side defensive end first, if he stays home and does not commit to either the dive or the QB he is playing it correctly and forces a tough decision. Watch for an overhang linebacker or slot corner sitting at the mesh point on the option side, this defender can play both dive and pitch and is the primary counter to this concept. Check safety depth and rotation pre-snap, a single high shell with the safety filling the alley late is more vulnerable than a two high shell that keeps outside contain honest. Look for aggressive linebacker flow keying the mesh action too early, this is exactly what the freeze fake is designed to exploit for a cutback or keep lane. Be wary of a scrape exchange technique from the linebackers, where one player takes the dive and another scrapes over the top for the QB, since this cleanly defends both phases of the option.

Usage Tips

Snap this on early downs or in short yardage when the defense is loading the box expecting a straight run, since the freeze action punishes aggressive linebacker flow.

Watch the defensive end pre-snap alignment, if he is sitting wide and squeezed down hard on tendency you have an easy keep read to the boundary.

Manually control the QB after the snap so you can pull it up through the alley instead of relying on the CPU logic to make the option read.

Pair this with HB Power O and Strong Power earlier in a drive to sell the same gap look, then hit Freeze Option Rt once the defense starts crashing down on inside runs.

Avoid calling this into heavy blitz packages with an unblocked overhang defender sitting right at the mesh, since he can play both the dive and the QB simultaneously and blow up the option.

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