Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Read Option is a run play out of Shotgun Split Pro Offset Wk with 21 personnel, showing the QB and HB in the mesh point with a zone read blocking scheme up front. The offensive line blocks down and to the playside while the backside end is left unblocked for the QB to read, and the fullback or offset back releases through the hole as a lead blocker or option pitch man. The primary read is the QB reading the backside defensive end: if he crashes down on the dive, the QB pulls and attacks the edge, and if the end sits or widens, the QB hands off on the give.
Defensive Reads
User the backside defensive end and force the QB to make a real decision instead of scripting the outcome. Watch for linebackers flowing hard downhill on run action, since a disciplined Mike linebacker staying home can blow up both the dive and the keep. Stacked boxes with 8 defenders tend to shut this down if the backside contain is disciplined and squeezes the mesh point. Light boxes with two-high safeties are more vulnerable since the QB keep has room to work if the DE crashes. Post-snap, key the safety rotation to see if the defense is rotating down to spy the QB, which signals they are respecting the option keep.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs when defenses are stacking the box expecting inside runs off tendency.
Check the defensive end alignment pre-snap and identify if he is a crash defender or contain player from film study.
If the defense shows a heavy blitz look with the backside end squeezing hard, plan to pull the ball and get to the edge quickly before the backside pursuit closes.
Pair this with HB Power O out of the same set to keep defenders honest on both gap schemes, then hit them with PA F Slide off similar mesh action once they start keying run fast.
Avoid calling this into pure zero blitz looks since there is no extra gap protection and a free rusher can blow up the mesh before the read develops.
