Playbooks
Bounce Read Option is a zone run play out of Shotgun Trips TE Flex Close WK that features an outside zone blocking scheme with a bounce-outside designed track for the HB. This is a run play with a read option element built in, giving the QB a give or keep decision based on the backside defensive end crash. The primary read progression is the QB reading the play side end man on the line of scrimmage first, then working the alley defenders and the backside pursuit to decide whether to hand off for the bounce lane or pull it and attack the edge himself.
Watch for a hard crashing defensive end pre-snap, this is the trigger the QB reads to decide between give and keep. Identify overhang defenders and slot corners walked down near the trips side, since a fast outside linebacker or safety in the alley can blow up the bounce lane before it develops. Look for user defenders spying the QB, if the human is sitting on the keep this play favors the give since the box should be lighter. Check linebacker depth at snap, if they are playing downhill run fits with no delay this play struggles to bounce outside and you should hold it inside or check to a different concept. Heavy blitz packages and edge pressure looks can beat this play if the QB cannot get the ball out or make the read fast enough, so be ready to check to a quick game or RPO if you see a pressure look pre-snap.
Check the box count pre-snap and make sure you have a numbers advantage to the play side before the snap, since this scheme lives on winning the edge.
Look at the defensive end alignment before the snap, if he is crashing hard down the line on tendency this play will bounce clean, if he sits wide you may want to keep it with the QB instead.
Use this play on early downs like first and second and ten when defenses are more likely to sit in base fronts rather than sub packages that clog the edge.
Pair it with Inside Zone and Outside Zone from this same set to keep the defense guessing on which gap you are attacking, then come back to this play once the defense starts flowing hard to the interior.
If the defense starts keying the bounce and setting the edge with a fast corner or overhang, counter with Bounce Inside Zone or Bounce Shallow Cross to attack the space that opens up inside.