Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Speed Option is a QB run play out of Shotgun Trips TE Offset that reads the edge defender to decide between the QB keeping the ball or pitching to the HB running alongside him. The diagram shows the QB stepping laterally with the HB trailing on the option pitch relationship before both turn upfield toward the sideline, while the three receivers to the trips side and the tight end are not shown running routes, indicating they hold blocks or are decoys away from the play side. This is a pure run play designed to stress the edge with a numbers advantage, not a pass or RPO concept, and the primary read is the QB reading the first unblocked defender outside the tackle box to option him off before turning the corner.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the defensive end or outside linebacker aligned on the play side edge, since he is the primary key the QB is reading in real time. Look for a hard crash from the edge defender, if he sells out to tackle the QB immediately, expect the pitch to the HB on the perimeter. Watch linebacker depth and flow, fast flowing linebackers who chase the mesh point can be optioned around if the edge defender overcommits inside. Man coverage on the trips side with tight man-lock corners often leaves extra numbers in the box, making this a tougher matchup unless the offense uses motion to adjust blocking angles. Zone shells with a cornerback sitting in the flat can undercut the pitch phase, so the QB must be ready to pull it back and cut upfield rather than forcing a low-percentage pitch into a defender.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs or short yardage when you need a high-percentage gain and defenses are geared up to stop dropback passing.
Check the defensive line width pre-snap, if the defense has crashed the edge or has a hard contain end aligned wide, keep the ball and cut it upfield instead of forcing the pitch.
Use the trips receivers as window dressing by motioning one across pre-snap to bait the defense into rotating coverage away from the option side.
Pair this with RPO Alert Bubble or RPO Zone Alert Bubble from the same set so the defense has to respect both the perimeter run threat and the quick bubble screen out of the same formation look.
Avoid calling this against aggressive defensive user blitzers who key the mesh point quickly, since a disciplined edge defender can blow up both the QB and HB option simultaneously.
