Playbooks
Breakdown
Read Option out of Shotgun Cluster HB Str is a zone read run play with the HB aligned next to the QB and a tight cluster of receivers bunched to the play side. The QB reads the play side defensive end: give the ball on the dive path if the end crashes down, or pull and attack the edge if the end sits or squeezes inside. This is a pure run play designed to attack light boxes and outnumber unblocked defenders on the perimeter, with the offensive line executing zone blocking steps toward the play side while the cluster receivers occupy or run off second level defenders.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side defensive end pre-snap: if he is crashing hard on every snap, spy or contain him with a linebacker to remove the keep threat. Watch for an unblocked EDGE defender staying square at the mesh point, since that is the exact look this play is designed to exploit if he guesses wrong. Get a linebacker or safety to fill the alley quickly after the snap, since the cluster receivers are trying to occupy defenders and open a running lane outside. User the play side end or a nickel defender and manually crash the mesh point to force a bad pull read from the QB. Bring a run blitz off the edge from depth so the QB never gets a clean look at the read, which shuts this play down before the mesh even develops.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap and only trust the mesh point read if the defense shows six or fewer in the box.
Use this against defenses that crash their ends hard on inside zone tendencies, since the QB keep lane opens up big when the end commits inside.
Motion is not shown here, but pair this call with Mtn HB Draw earlier in a series to get defenders flowing hard downhill before you hit them with the keep read.
On third and short or second and short, call this to force the defense to respect both the dive and the edge, which widens your run fits against aggressive fronts.
Avoid calling this into stacked box looks with extra defenders showing blitz, since the mesh read gets muddied and you lose the numbers advantage.
