Playbooks

Lead Read Option

Shotgun·U Off Trips·12

Run Play

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetU Off Trips

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

Lead Read Option is a run-based option play out of Shotgun U Off Trips with 12 personnel, giving the QB a true give or keep read based on the play side defensive end. The lead blocker (fullback or extra TE) leads through the hole to seal the alley defender while the offensive line blocks down for inside zone flow, and the QB reads the unblocked edge defender to decide between handing off to the HB or pulling it and attacking the perimeter himself. This is a run play designed to attack light boxes and slow-flowing linebackers, with the primary read progression being the play side EDGE crash versus contain, then the lead blocker's ability to seal the second level defender in space.

Defensive Reads

Watch the play side defensive end pre-snap to see if he is aligned to crash inside or sit wide for contain, since that alignment often telegraphs the scheme fit against option runs. Key the flow of the second level linebackers after the snap, if they are downhill fast and unblocked the lead blocker needs to win that matchup or the play dies in the backfield. This play beats light boxes, base 4-3 and 4-2-5 fronts with slow-reacting linebackers, and defenses that do not have a dedicated scrape exchange defender. It gets shut down by disciplined option defense with a hard EDGE crash paired with a scrape exchange linebacker, or by a stacked box with an extra run defender cheating down from depth. User the play side EDGE or a linebacker if you're on defense to force a bad pull read, and watch for a user spy or lurk defender sitting in the option lane to blow up both the give and keep.

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap and only call this against six or fewer defenders in the box since the option read gets negated by extra run support. Identify if the defense is running a scrape exchange or a hard crash from the EDGE, since that dictates whether you pull the ball or hand it off on your read. Use this on early downs in normal or run-heavy personnel packages to keep the defense honest and set up PA Jet Cross or PA TE Leak later in the drive off the same look. Motion check pre-snap if available to see if the defense adjusts the alley defender, which tells you if they are keying run from Trips formations. Pair this play with RPO Read Flat or RPO Alert Bubble in your call sheet so the defense cannot sit on the read without giving up a quick throw.