Read Option

Watch the play side defensive end pre snap, if he widens out to take away the pitch or QB run lane, hand it off, if he stays home on the RB, pull and attack the edge Check linebacker depth before the snap, linebackers sitting shallow at 3 to 4 yards are primed to fill fast against zone runs and this play is more vulnerable to them Look for a slanting or crashing 3 tech or 4i tech, aggressive interior line slants can blow up the zone track before the mesh point read even develops User controlled defenders spying the QB from depth are the biggest counter, if you see a defender staying square and not committing to the RB fake, expect him to make the tackle if you pull the ball This play struggles against disciplined scrape exchange linebacker play, if the backside linebacker is trained to read the QB's hips and mirror the mesh point, look to counter with play action out of this same formation instead