Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Speed Option is a pure run play out of Pistol Spread 10 personnel that sends the QB and HB laterally toward the play side together, with the QB reading the edge defender to decide whether to keep the ball or pitch it to the trailing HB. There is no route combo or pass concept here, this is a triple option style give/keep look designed to attack the perimeter before the defense can flow. The primary read progression is the QB reading the unblocked edge defender at the mesh point: if that defender crashes down on the QB, pitch outside to the HB, if he sits or widens to take the HB, keep it up inside.
Defensive Reads
Watch the play side defensive end or OLB alignment before the snap, a wide 9-technique alignment signals the defense is prepared to play assignment football on the option. Post-snap, key whether the edge defender attacks the QB or sits and shuffles, this tells you instantly whether the pitch or the keep is live. Defenses with a disciplined scrape exchange linebacker will shut this down by mirroring the pitch man while the DE takes the QB. User-controlled defenders spying the QB from depth can jump the keep read, so if you see a defender sitting in the alley pre-snap, expect the human to bait the give and squeeze the QB run. Overloaded fronts or heavy blitz packages can beat this play by simply outnumbering the edge before the option read even develops, so avoid calling this into all-out pressure looks.
Usage Tips
Use this in obvious run downs or on early downs when you have shown enough pass looks from Pistol Spread to keep the defense honest.
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense has a true edge defender who can play the option assignment, if the defensive end or OLB is crashing hard on every snap you can key the pitch read immediately.
Pair this with Read Option and HB Dive from the same set so the defense cannot sit on one specific run action out of this personnel.
Against aggressive defensive fronts that fly upfield, keep the ball more often since the alley will stay open behind the crashing end.
Mix in Speed Option with Jet Touch Pass or Zone Fake Jet as play-action window dressing later in a series once the defense starts overplaying the option keys.
