Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Read Option Wk lines up out of the Pistol Wing with 12 personnel, showing a tight formation with two wide split receivers and a stacked TE/OL surface to the play side. The QB reads the weak side edge defender off the mesh point with the HB, with the offensive line executing a zone step to the left while the read key is left unblocked, and the two outside WRs run vertical releases to hold the corners deep. This is a pure run play designed to attack the edge with a give or keep decision based on the defensive end's crash, so the primary read progression is the QB scanning the weak side D-end first before deciding to hand off or pull and run himself.
Defensive Reads
Watch the weak side defensive end pre-snap since his leverage determines whether he is reading the mesh or squeezing hard, and that read decides give versus keep for the QB. A defense in a true 4-3 or 3-4 base front with the end staying home neutralizes this play, so look for that discipline as a sign this concept will get shut down. User controlled defenders spying the QB out of the backfield are the biggest threat to the keep option, so identify any linebacker or safety cheating downhill before the snap. Overloaded fronts or edge blitzes from the weak side can blow up the mesh point before the read even develops, so recognize pressure packages and be ready to hand off quickly. Soft zone shells with linebackers reading run first tend to overpursue the dive fake, opening a cutback lane if the QB keeps and presses the edge.
Usage Tips
Check the alignment of the weak side defensive end before the snap since his depth and hand placement tell you whether he is sitting to play the option or crashing hard on the mesh.
Use this play on early downs in run heavy personnel packages where the defense is showing base fronts or light boxes with only six or seven defenders in the box.
If the defense shows a heavy blitz look off the edge, consider audibling to HB Slam or Strong Power to run right at the vacated interior gaps instead.
Pair this call with PA Boot or PA Boot Lt later in a series so the play-action rollout off similar formation shapes freezes the read defender who has been burned by the keep option.
Against aggressive edge defenders who consistently crash down on the RB, pull the ball more often and get the QB outside the tackle box before the linebackers can flow.
