Playbooks

Speed Option

Pistol·Ace Slot·12
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

In 2 playbooks

Sim Multirolepersonnel Ba OffenseOffenseSim Multirolepersonnel Rn OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Speed Option out of Pistol Ace Slot is an option run play where the QB reads the edge defender to decide between keeping the ball outside or pitching it to the HB running alongside him. The blocking scheme flows to the play side with the offensive line reaching and sealing the edge while the QB and HB stay attached in the option mesh, forcing the defense to declare who takes the QB and who takes the pitch man. This is not a pass concept or RPO, it is a pure option run, and the primary read progression is the QB attacking the outside defender's shoulder to decide give or keep in real time.

Defensive Reads

Read the play side defensive end or outside linebacker pre-snap, if he is aligned wide and squared to string the play out he is likely playing assignment football and will take away the pitch, forcing the QB keep. Watch for a user controlled defender crashing down hard on the QB immediately after the snap, that is the classic option blow up technique and it takes away the keep read completely, so the pitch to the HB must be quick and decisive. Look for scrape exchange linebacker technique where the play side linebacker replaces the crashing end, this is designed to take both the QB and pitch man away and is one of the toughest looks to beat with this concept. Against zone shells with light boxes, the alley defender or safety rotating down late can be a lurking threat on the pitch lane, so track his depth and leverage before committing to the option read. Man coverage teams that blitz off the edge with a linebacker or safety create a numbers advantage for the defense at the mesh point, if you see this pre-snap consider checking to a different play in the set like HB Dive or QB Blast instead of forcing the option.

Usage Tips

Attack the play side edge defender and watch his hips before the snap, if he crashes hard down inside on the mesh point that is your cue to pull the ball and get outside for the keep read.

Use this against defenses that show heavy inside run fits or stacked box looks since the option forces an unblocked defender to choose wrong no matter what he does.

Hot route the play side TE into a quick arc or lead block release if you are getting too much outside pressure from a fast defensive end, that gives you an extra blocker on the edge for the pitch.

Pair this with Freeze Option Rt and Freeze Counter Opt Rt in the same set to keep the defense guessing between multiple option looks with different flow directions, this stresses user defenders who are trying to key the mesh point.

Best used on early downs or short yardage when defenses are playing base run fits, avoid this against aggressive blitz packages that bring extra defenders untouched to the mesh since option execution against pressure is inconsistent.

Other Plays in Ace Slot