Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Orbit Triple Option out of Pistol Strong Slot Open is a true option run play built around a mesh point between the QB, the orbiting motion man and the HB. Pre-snap motion brings a slot receiver in orbit fashion across the formation to create a pitch option threat while the offensive line down blocks to seal the point of attack for the dive path. The QB reads the first unblocked defender off the edge, deciding to hand off on the dive, keep it himself, or pitch to the trailing motion man, making this a pure run scheme rather than a play-action or RPO concept, and it is most effective against undisciplined run fits rather than as a man or zone passing beater.
Defensive Reads
Watch the play side defensive end and outside linebacker before the snap, since a wide 9 technique or crashing edge defender is the first key for whether the dive or keep lane opens. Track the orbit motion man with a linebacker or slot corner, because if the defense fails to walk someone out to match motion, the pitch phase becomes an easy explosive gain. Force the QB to make three phases of decisions by spilling the dive and staying square on the mesh point, which is how disciplined scrape exchange defense shuts this concept down. Look for user controlled defenders shooting gaps immediately after the snap, since blitzing off the edge before the mesh point develops can blow up both the dive and keep options. Safeties rotating down into the box pre-snap signal run support that can outnumber the play side, so respect two high shells that stay balanced as the toughest shell to option against.
Usage Tips
Use the orbit motion pre-snap to identify if the defense is playing assignment football or crashing hard, since a defense that follows the motion man out of the box tells you to keep the ball inside on the dive read.
Run this on early downs, first or second and short to medium, when defenses are more likely to sit in base run fronts rather than sub packages designed to stop the option.
If the CPU or user defender crashes down on the dive every time, hot route the fullback or adjust blocking to hold that defender before pulling the trigger on the pitch to the orbit man.
Pair this with HB Dive and Orbit HB Off Tackle from the same set to keep linebackers guessing between dive, keep and pitch, since all three plays share a similar mesh point look.
Against aggressive edge defenders who key the QB, practice a quick pitch read so you are not late giving up the ball to the trailing option man on the perimeter.
