Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Triple Option Rt is a run-heavy option play out of Shotgun Duo Slot Open with 20 personnel on the field. The diagram shows the QB reading the mesh point with the HB running off right tackle while a pitch man releases outside to the flat as the trigger for the lateral option, with the offensive line executing a down block and reach scheme to seal the point of attack. This is a pure run play designed to attack aggressive downhill defenses, and the primary read progression is dive to the HB first, then pull and read the edge defender to decide between keeping it yourself or pitching outside to the flat man.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a scrape exchange technique from the defensive end and outside linebacker, this is the primary counter that shuts down both the dive and the keep option. If the defense shows a heavy box with eight or more defenders crashing downhill pre-snap, expect the dive to get stuffed and plan to pull immediately for the pitch. User-controlled defenders who spy the QB or crash the mesh point are the biggest threat, since they eliminate the keep read and force a rushed pitch decision. Check safety depth before the snap, if both safeties are sitting at depth in a two-high shell it usually means fewer run blitzers and more room to option outside. Look for linebackers cheating toward the flat pre-snap, this signals the defense is sitting on the pitch and you should keep the ball on the dive or QB run instead.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs when you have identified a base 4-3 or 4-2-5 front that crashes hard inside, since the dive read gets eaten up but the pitch stays alive outside.
Pre-snap, check the alignment of the outside linebacker or edge defender to the play side, if he is sitting wide and squeezing down you want to pull and pitch immediately.
Combine this with Inside Zone from the same set to keep the defense honest on interior gap reads before you go back to the option keep.
Pair it with RPO Read HB Flat on the next series so linebackers who cheated up to stop the triple option get punished by a quick flat throw off the same mesh action.
Avoid calling this on short yardage or obvious passing downs since a disciplined scrape exchange defender can blow up both the dive and the keep simultaneously.
Run this on second and short or first and ten to keep defensive coordinators guessing between run commit and pass drop.
