Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Read Option out of Pistol Open Flex is a zone read run play with the QB and HB aligned in the backfield behind the offensive line. The line blocks zone to the play side while the QB reads the edge defender to decide between handing off on the zone track or pulling the ball and attacking the alley himself. This is a pure run play with no route concept attached, designed to exploit overaggressive edge defenders and light boxes.
Defensive Reads
Watch the play side defensive end alignment pre-snap since his width determines whether the offense has a clean edge to option. If the linebackers are stacked tight with no gap discipline, this play beats them badly because the zone blocking will wash them out of their fits. Force feed the box with an extra defender or spy on the QB read to shut down the pull read and take away the outside run threat. Watch for user-controlled defenders crashing hard down inside, since that opens the QB keep lane and turns this into an explosive gain if unaccounted for. Aggressive blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge get gashed by the QB pull read, so play disciplined assignment football against Pistol run looks.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and only run this into 6 or fewer defenders in the box to avoid a numbers disadvantage.
Identify the play side defensive end or OLB pre-snap since he is the read key for the QB option decision.
Use the QB run option sparingly on early downs so the defense cannot key on it, then pull the ball on third and short when defenders are crashing hard on the HB.
Pair this with Inside Zone Split and HB Zone Wk from the same set so the defense has to respect multiple run tracks out of identical Pistol alignment.
Save PA Boot and PA Boot Rt as complementary calls once you have shown Read Option enough to bait linebackers into overpursuing downhill.
