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Breakdown
Read Special out of Shotgun Trips 10 personnel is a run pass option built off an inside zone look, giving the quarterback a pre and post snap decision between handing the ball off or pulling it to attack the perimeter with a bubble or read concept from the trips side. The blocking scheme sends the offensive line into a standard zone track while the backside or slot receiver works a quick breaking route that acts as the alert throw against overplayed run fits. The primary read progression starts with the quarterback reading the play side flow of the second level defender assigned to the RPO key, then working to the trips side receiver if that defender crashes down on the run action.
Defensive Reads
Watch the play side linebacker depth before the snap, since a linebacker sitting shallow in the box is more likely to crash on the run fake and open up the RPO throw behind him. Key the safety rotation post snap, because a single high safety rolling hard to the trips side signals Cover 3 or Cover 1 and tells you the flat defender is on an island in run pass conflict. If the defense shows two high safeties with the corners playing off in Cover 2 or Cover 4, the underneath defenders are better disciplined against the RPO key, so the handoff read becomes the stronger option. Look for a user controlled defender lurking near the RPO throwing lane, since a spy or a rat in the passing lane can bait the quarterback into an interception if the read is misjudged. Man beater blitz packages like nano blitzes off the edge can disrupt the mesh point quickly, so recognize hot pressure looks pre snap and be ready to get the ball out immediately rather than holding the read.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and if the defense is stacked in the box with six or more defenders, lean toward pulling the ball to the RPO read instead of forcing the handoff into a bad blocking angle.
Identify whether the linebacker assigned to the RPO key is sitting flat footed or crashing hard downhill at the snap, since that first step tells you immediately whether to give or pull.
Use the trips side receiver as your automatic answer against Cover 3 or Cover 1 shells where the flat defender is forced to choose between run support and covering the route.
Pair this play with 45 Quick Base or RPO Alert Screen in the same set so the defense has to respect both the inside run action and the quick game, which slows down linebacker triggers on Read Special.
On third and short or second and manageable, this play punishes aggressive run blitz calls, so save it for situations where you expect the defense to sell out against the ground game.
