Read Option

Pre-snap, check the alignment of the play side defensive end and outside linebacker to see if they are sitting in a true option shell or already leaning to crash the mesh point. Watch for a scraping middle linebacker or slot defender flowing hard downhill immediately at the snap, which signals the defense is keying the mesh and will blow up both handoff and keep options. If the safety rotates down into the box pre-snap, expect an extra run fit and consider using the keep read since the numbers on the edge may favor the QB. User controlled defenders who sit outside the tackle and refuse to commit are trying to force a bad pitch or keep decision, so patience on the read is critical against manual defenders. Stacked fronts or heavy blitz packages that send extra defenders through the A and B gaps will not respect the option fake and typically shut this play down before the mesh point develops.