Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Read Option out of Shotgun Doubles Y-Flex Offset is a zone read run play with the QB and HB mesh point set behind a five man offensive line box, exactly as shown in the diagram with the yellow QB keep path bending left and the red HB dive path crossing downhill. The line blocks down on a zone scheme to seal the interior, leaving the edge defender unblocked for the QB to read. Primary progression is the mesh read on the unblocked EDGE defender: if he crashes down on the HB dive, pull it and attack the vacated edge, if he sits wide or stays home, hand it off and let the HB work through the zone rushing lanes.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side EDGE or DE technique before the snap, since a wide 9 technique or crashing DE alignment signals the offense is likely to pull the ball on the read. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if the play side backer flows too fast to the dive path he opens a cutback or keep lane for the QB. This run struggles against a hard edge contain scheme where the DE stays disciplined and forces the give every time, so squeeze the dive lane with the play side LB and let the DE own the edge. User the play side EDGE defender yourself to manually contain the QB keep, since AI defenders can be baited by the mesh action and crash inside too aggressively. Overload run blitzes with a extra defender crashing the mesh point can blow this up pre-snap, since the offense has no lead blocker to handle a free hitter in the backfield.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs in run heavy sequences when the defense shows a light box or a two high shell that suggests they are worried about the pass first.
Watch the play side EDGE defender pre-snap to see if he is crashing hard on run downs, since that tells you whether the keep or the give will hit first before the ball is even snapped.
Pair this with PA Read out of the same set so the defense has to respect both the zone read look and a play-action shot off identical formation and backfield action.
If the defense stacks the box to take away the dive, hot route the flex TE or slot into a quick out or option route as an outlet so the QB has a bail option on the keep.
Save this for 2nd and short or 1st and 10 situations where a hesitant defense is more likely to sell out on the dive and open up the QB keep lane.
