Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Read Option Wk lines up out of Pistol Bunch with the QB reading the backside end or OLB while the HB runs the give path opposite the play call, and the diagram shows the offensive line stepping in a zone blocking scheme to the left with the QB keying the unblocked defender before pulling or handing off. This is a run play built to attack the edge with a true dual read, not a play-action or dropback pass. The primary read progression is simple: QB eyes the read defender at the mesh point, gives to the HB into the zone run lane if that defender crashes down, or pulls it and works the edge himself if the defender sits or widens.
Defensive Reads
Watch the backside DE or OLB first, since that is the actual read key for the offense and if he crashes hard on the HB every time it signals the offense will start pulling the ball. Keep a spy or contain defender on the edge if you are controlling a linebacker, since the QB keep is the counterpunch to any defender selling out on the dive. Zone coverages with light box counts get gashed by the interior zone run, so bring a safety down into the box pre-snap against base 11 personnel Bunch looks. Man coverage on the perimeter can leave the alley thin if corners are locked in press outside, so user a linebacker to fill the B gap immediately after the snap. If the offense starts calling Dbl Mtn PA Stretch or PA Boot Slide out of the same look, stay disciplined on run fits since the formation mirrors this read option heavily.
Usage Tips
Check the defensive end and OLB alignment pre-snap to decide if you want to bait the read defender with a slow mesh before committing.
Use this out of neutral downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short so defenses cannot sell out on the pass.
Pair this with Dbl Mtn PA Stretch and PA Boot Slide from the same Bunch personnel so the defense has to respect both the run action and the boot pass off similar formation looks.
If the defense shows a crashing DE every snap, hot route the play by pulling the ball more often and attacking the alley with the QB run.
Against aggressive edge blitz packages, let the mesh sit an extra tick since the read defender is often forced to commit early, opening the QB keep lane.
