Playbooks
Breakdown
Read Option out of Shotgun Trips TE Offset is a true zone read run play, giving the QB a mesh point decision with the HB based on the backside defensive end's crash or contain. The offensive line executes a zone blocking scheme, sealing the playside gap while the QB reads the unblocked edge defender to decide between handing off on the give path or pulling and keeping it himself. This is not a pass concept at all, it is a pure ground game staple designed to punish aggressive edge defenders and undisciplined run fits.
Defensive Reads
Watch the backside defensive end pre-snap, if he is aligned wide and shows contain discipline the give read is live all game. Identify linebacker depth before the snap, stacked linebackers who crash downhill on the mesh point open up cutback lanes for the give. Post-snap, key the DE's first two steps, if he attacks the mesh point hard the QB should pull it and get to the edge immediately. Look for defenses using a spy or scrape exchange technique on the backside, this is the primary counter that shuts down the QB keep option. Man coverage on the perimeter with no extra run support in the box is a green light for this play since it isolates the read defender with numbers.
Usage Tips
Check the defensive front pre-snap and identify which edge defender is left unblocked, that is your true read key for the entire play.
Use this out of 11 personnel on early downs like first and ten to keep the defense honest against both the run and the trips pass concepts in this set.
If the defense shows a crashing DE on film, hot route the playside WR into a quick screen look before the snap to force the defense to respect the perimeter.
Pair this with RPO Alert Bubble or RPO Alert Screen from the same set so defenses cannot sit on the run fit without exposing bubble and screen throws.
Take the keep option against teams that consistently crash their end upfield, and take the give against teams that sit their end wide to contain the QB.
