Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Triple Option Lt is a Shotgun run play out of Split Slot Open that reads the play side edge defender on a true triple option scheme. The diagram shows the QB working left behind zone blocking with a dive read and pitch man stacked outside, with the option to keep, hand off, or pitch based on how the edge defender reacts. This is a run play built to exploit gap discipline, not a pass concept, and it punishes defenses that crash hard on the initial dive threat.
Defensive Reads
Watch the play side defensive end pre-snap, if he is crashing down inside on run downs he is vulnerable to the keep or pitch phase of the option. Check linebacker depth before the snap, stacked or blitzing linebackers who fly downhill on run action can be gashed if the QB pulls and gets to the edge quickly. Identify whether the defense is in a run fit with a true force defender assigned to the pitch man, if a cornerback or safety is sitting outside with contain responsibility the pitch lane will be taken away. Man coverage shells with off corners tend to leave extra run support in the box, which can shut this down if the defense recognizes option keys quickly. User controlled defenders flying to the ball on the dive fake are the biggest threat, since a disciplined user pursuing the QB on the keep phase erases the scheme advantage.
Usage Tips
Run this out of a run heavy personnel count and use it on early downs when the defense shows base fronts or light boxes without extra second level defenders. Check the pre-snap alignment of the play side defensive end and outside linebacker, if they are sitting wide and squeezing hard they are begging to get optioned off the edge. Use the hot route menu sparingly here since the option read logic is baked into the play design, your job is to make the correct pull or pitch decision post-snap rather than adjust routes. Pair this with Shovel Option and Power Read from the same set so defenses cannot key on one option look, alternating fronts forces linebackers to freeze instead of flowing hard to one side. Attack odd fronts and 3-4 looks where the defense already has fewer natural edge defenders to account for the pitch phase.
