Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Read Option out of Shotgun U Off Trips Flex is a zone read run play that puts the QB in a mesh point decision with the HB, working off the read-side DE. The offensive line executes a zone blocking scheme flowing to the playside, with the tight ends and trips receivers occupying second-level defenders and holding the corners and safeties in coverage responsibilities away from the box. This is a run play with an RPO feel built into the mechanics: the primary read progression is the QB reading the unblocked edge defender to decide between the give to the HB on the dive or pulling the ball for the keep.
Defensive Reads
Watch the read-side defensive end pre-snap, if he is crashing hard down the line on every snap the QB keep will hit paydirt on the edge. Check linebacker depth before the snap, stacked linebackers sitting at five yards or closer signal a run blitz look that can be neutralized by the keep read. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender spying the mesh point, aggressive human spies can jump the give read and blow up the dive. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with light boxes are prime targets since the extra defenders are tied up deep, leaving numbers advantages for the run front. Defenses that play contain with the edge defender and keep a linebacker unblocked in the alley shut this down, forcing a quick decision to bail into a checkdown or cut the play at the mesh point.
Usage Tips
Attack light boxes by checking the defender count in the box pre-snap, six or fewer defenders in the box is the green light to run this consistently.
Use the trips side alignment to bait safeties into rotating away from the run fit, then attack the vacated edge with the QB keep.
If the defense shows a hard crash from the read defender every snap, hot route a receiver into a bubble screen or quick out to punish the aggression.
Pair this with Inside Zone and Duo in the same set to keep the defense honest on gap reads, then hit Read Option once linebackers start cheating downhill.
Best used on early downs (first and second) in normal or ace personnel packages to stay ahead of the chains and set up play-action shots like PA Scissors Crossers later in the series.
