Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
Read Option out of Shotgun Doubles Hip is a designed zone read run play with 11 personnel on the field. The QB reads the mesh point with the HB, either handing off on the give path (yellow) or pulling and keeping it himself on the keep path (red) based on the backside defensive end's crash or contain. The offensive line executes zone blocking to the play side while the two outside receivers are not shown running routes, keeping this a pure run action rather than a play-action or RPO look. Primary read progression starts with the read defender at the mesh point, then flows to the alley defender if the QB pulls and keeps.
Defensive Reads
Watch the backside defensive end pre-snap, if he is sitting wide and unblocked he is the primary read key for the QB's give or keep decision. Overloaded fronts with extra defenders in the box signal run blitz packages designed to blow up the mesh point before the read develops. Linebacker depth matters, if the play side linebacker is flowing hard downhill he can be user-controlled to fill the give lane and force a QB keep into traffic. Contain defenders on the edge, especially a spy or scrape exchange technique, will shut down the keep option and force the ball inside where the box is loaded. Defenses that stay disciplined with their read defender and do not bite on the initial mesh action are the toughest to run this against, so mixing in Inside Zone from the same look helps disguise the read.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is running a 4-3 or 3-4 front since the read defender changes based on personnel and alignment.
Look for the backside DE's depth off the ball, a wide crashing end tells you to pull and keep immediately rather than wasting time on a fake handoff read.
Use this play on early downs in normal run situations, second and short to medium works best to keep defenses honest against pass-heavy calls.
Pair Read Option with Inside Zone and HB Draw from this same Doubles Hip set to build a consistent ground package that forces linebackers to respect multiple gap threats.
Mix in PA Go Slot Cross or Mtn PA Spinner after a few successful Read Option reps to punish safeties who start creeping up to stop the run.
