Playbooks

Read Option

Pistol·Trips·11
Read OptionRun Play
Play diagram for Read Option from Pistol Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

In 8 playbooks

Buccaneers OffenseOffenseCowboys OffenseOffensePanthers OffenseOffensePistol OffenseOffenseRun N Gun OffenseOffenseNFL Live Buccaneers OffenseOffenseNFL Live Cowboys OffenseOffenseNFL Live Panthers OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Read Option out of Pistol Trips is a zone run play built around a true QB read option mesh point with the HB lined up offset behind the quarterback. The three trips receivers to the right run off vertical stems to occupy the cornerbacks and safety, clearing the perimeter for the QB pull or handoff, while the offensive line executes a zone blocking scheme to the play side. The primary read is the quarterback reading the play side defensive end: give the ball on the zone track if he crashes down, or pull and attack the edge if he stays home, with the trips vertical releases serving as a built in zone beater to occupy second level defenders from flowing outside.

Defensive Reads

Watch the play side defensive end pre-snap and post-snap since a crashing end tells the QB to give while a squeezed end forces the keep read. Look for defenses in odd fronts with a true 3-technique since interior gap control against zone can bottle up both the give and keep options. Man coverage on the trips side with no extra help over the top is vulnerable because the vertical releases clear space for the edge run. Zone defenses that spill the edge with a hard flowing linebacker and force the QB to declare early can shut down the keeper option. User controlled defensive ends who stay disciplined on the mesh point and squeeze the option lane are the toughest key to beat with this concept.

Usage Tips

Check the play side defensive end alignment before the snap since his run fit determines whether the give or the keep is live.

Use this on early downs or in short yardage when defenses are stacking the box expecting inside runs, since the trips formation forces defenders to respect the pass first look.

Hot route one of the outside trips receivers into a quick screen or bubble if you see a corner blitz coming from that side, turning this into an improvised RPO look.

Pair this with RPO Alert Bubble and RPO Zone Alert Bubble from the same set to keep defenses honest, since all three plays share a similar pre-snap picture but attack different leverage points.

Sequence this behind HB Dive or HB Zone Wk earlier in a drive so the defensive ends start crashing hard, setting up bigger keeper gains later.

Other Plays in Trips