Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
QB Slot Option is a designed QB run out of Shotgun Slot Right that reads the edge defender on the option side. The diagram shows the QB attacking the edge with a pitch relationship to the HB, who mirrors his path outside as the option pitch man, while the line seals inside running lanes. This is a designed run play with an option element built in, not a pass concept, so the primary read is the edge defender: keep it if he crashes the QB, pitch it if he stays home on the HB.
Defensive Reads
Watch for an unblocked edge defender crashing hard inside, that is your pitch key to get the ball to the HB immediately Identify if the defense is in a run blitz with extra defenders stacked near the box, which can beat this play if the option key is disciplined Look for scrape exchange linebackers who stay square and read the option, since disciplined LBs shut down both the keep and pitch lanes Check safety depth pre-snap, a safety cheating down into the box signals run support that can outnumber your blockers on the edge Post-snap, watch for a user-controlled defender flying downhill on the QB, which usually means the pitch to the HB is the higher percentage play
Usage Tips
Check the defensive end or OLB alignment pre-snap to confirm you have a numbers advantage on the option side before snapping the ball
Attack the edge defender directly and make your keep-or-pitch decision based on his first step, not on late hesitation
Use this in run-heavy personnel downs like second and short or third and short where defenses are more likely to sit in base fronts
Pair this with Read Option and Speed Option in your play-calling script so defenses cannot key on a single option look
Mix in RPO Alert Bubble or RPO Read WR Screen from the same set to punish defenders who cheat up to stop the option run
