Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Read Option out of Shotgun Bunch Str Offset lines up the QB and HB in a mesh point read look, with the bunch receivers to the strength side and a lone isolated WR backside. The offensive line shows zone blocking flow toward the play side while the QB reads the edge defender to decide whether to hand off on the give path or pull and attack the alley himself. This is a base run play built to punish overaggressive edge defenders and fast flow linebackers, with the primary read being the unblocked EDGE or DE crashing down on the mesh point.
Defensive Reads
Watch the play side DE or OLB pre-snap, if he is crashing hard down the line on every snap this play beats him with the QB pull read. Man coverage on the bunch receivers can free up cutback lanes since defenders are occupied releasing off the stack rather than filling run support. Look for a spy linebacker sitting inside, that defender is the key to shutting down the QB keep since he can mirror the quarterback through the mesh point. Fast flow linebackers who key the HB path immediately get gashed on the backside cutback, slow play your run fit reads to stay in phase. Overload blitzes from the play side edge with an extra defender crashing the mesh point kill the option entirely, force the offense to check into a different concept versus heavy pressure looks.
Usage Tips
Check the alignment of the play side EDGE defender before the snap, if he is sitting wide and squeezing hard on run fits every time, plan to pull and keep.
Use this out of 11 personnel on early downs to keep defenses honest since the bunch look disguises whether it is run or a play-action shot.
Pair Read Option with Return RPO Alert Flat or Mtn RPO Alert Swing from the same set so the defense has to respect both the give and the quick perimeter throw.
On the mesh point, do not commit to your read too early, let the EDGE defender declare his gap before pulling the ball to prevent a low hit disruption.
Best used on second and short or first and ten when defenses are playing base fronts instead of dime or nickel packages that flood the box with speed.
