Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Speed Option is a designed run out of Shotgun Trio HB Wk that pits the QB and HB in an option look attacking the edge, with the diagram showing both backfield players sprinting laterally toward the boundary before the QB reads whether to keep or pitch. The three receivers stay stationary as blockers at the top of the screen with no route concept run, confirming this is a pure numbers run play rather than a man or zone beater through the air. The primary read is the edge defender or first unblocked defender outside the tackle box: the QB keeps if that defender crashes the pitch man, and pitches to the HB if that defender squeezes the QB.
Defensive Reads
Force the QB to make a decision by assigning a defender to play the option correctly, one man on the QB and a different man on the pitch, rather than crashing both toward the ball. Watch for user controlled defenders spying the QB run lane since Speed Option has no pass answer if the edge is contained and the alley is full. Overloaded fronts with extra defenders in the box shut this down quickly, especially if the play side defensive end sits and reads instead of attacking upfield. Man coverage on the perimeter with squeezed cornerbacks can still get gashed if the safety is not fast enough to fill the alley on the pitch. Backside pursuit speed matters here, so a linebacker who flows hard and does not get held up by the stationary receivers can end this play for a loss.
Usage Tips
Use this play against defenses that show light boxes or overcommit their edge defenders to the QB run threat, since the option read punishes aggressive contain rushers.
Check the defensive end or outside linebacker alignment pre-snap: if he is lined up wide and fast flowing, plan to pitch early rather than banging it inside.
Pair Speed Option with Inside Zone and Wide Zone from this same set so the defense has to respect both gap runs and the outside option track, keeping linebackers honest on flow.
Avoid calling this on obvious passing downs since the lack of a route concept means there is no built in answer versus a heavy blitz or extra DBs in the box.
Sequence this after RPO Buck Read Bubble or RPO Alert Bubble to condition the defense to sit on quick passing looks, then hit them with the option keeper for an explosive gain.
