Playbooks

Triple Option

Pistol·Strong·21
Triple OptionRun Play
Play diagram for Triple Option from Pistol Strong in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

In 4 playbooks

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Breakdown

Triple Option out of Pistol Strong with 21 personnel is a true option run designed to attack the edge with a dive, QB keep, and pitch read all built into one play. The diagram shows the fullback taking the handoff path up through the line while the QB reads the mesh point before deciding to keep it outside, with the trailing back releasing wide as the pitch man on the option path. This is a run play with no route concept to beat man or zone coverage in the traditional sense, and the primary read progression goes dive man first, then the play side defensive end for the keep or pitch decision.

Defensive Reads

Read the play side defensive end and outside linebacker leverage before the snap to see if they are sitting on the dive or squeezing down early. If the defense is running a 4-3 under with the end crashing hard on the fullback, keep the ball yourself and attack the alley. Watch for a user controlled linebacker sitting in the B gap since that defender can blow up the mesh point and force a bad pitch read. Against a 46 blitz look with safeties stacked in the box, this play struggles because there is no extra gap for the pitch man to work with. Zone heavy coverages with soft outside linebackers tend to overrun the dive, giving the QB an easy keep read up through the vacated inside gap.

Usage Tips

Use this out of Pistol Strong on early downs when you want to establish tempo and force the defense to respect three phases of the run on every snap.

Watch the defensive end's first step before the snap since he determines whether you hand off, keep, or pitch, and freeze him with your eyes if you are user running the QB.

Pair this with HB Power and HB Zone from the same set so the defense cannot key on one blocking scheme, since all three punish downhill flow from linebackers.

If the defense shows a heavy box pre-snap with safeties crashed down, pitch quickly to the perimeter back before the alley defenders can rally.

Mix in Orbit Lead Triple Option and Orbit HB Power as changeups once the defense starts overplaying the base triple option look.

Other Plays in Strong