Playbooks
Read Option out of Shotgun Wide Trips is a true zone read run play built on 10 personnel spread numbers. The offensive line blocks down at the point of attack while the QB reads the backside defensive end to decide between handing off on the give path or pulling it to keep on the edge. This is not a pass concept, it is a pure run play designed to force a numbers disadvantage on the edge defender, and the primary read progression is simply crashing end versus staying home end off the snap.
Pre snap, count the box defenders and check safety depth, if both safeties are deep and the box is light you have a green light to run this every snap. Identify the backside defensive end alignment before the snap, a wide nine technique end signals an easier keep read while a tight crashing end favors the give. Post snap, watch for a spy linebacker or user controlled defender sitting on the mesh point, this is the number one play killer for zone read concepts. Look for scrape exchange technique from the defense where the end stays home and a linebacker replaces him on the edge, this eliminates both the give and keep lanes. Man coverage on the perimeter receivers tells you the defense is committing extra bodies to run support, so trust the box numbers and attack downhill quickly before flow catches up.
Attack defenses that show light boxes with only six or fewer defenders before the snap, since Read Option thrives on numbers advantage math.
Use this play on early downs like first and ten or second and short to keep defensive coordinators honest and set up explosive gains later in the drive.
If the defense sounds run heavy pre snap or shows a crashing defensive end on film, hot route the backside receiver on a quick slant or drag to build in a manual pull read for extra yardage.
Pair Read Option with RPO Alert Bubble Stick and PA Slot Choice from this same Wide Trips set so the defense cannot sit on the run key without opening up bubble screens or play action shots behind it.
Avoid calling this into stacked box fronts with an extra defender assigned to spy the QB, since disciplined backside contain shuts down the keep read completely.