Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Read Option out of Shotgun Wing Flex Offset Wk is a true zone read run play built off 12 personnel with two TEs stacked to the formation strength. The diagram shows the QB and HB mesh point tight together with the read defender (yellow arrow) crashing off the edge while the offensive line climbs to zone blocks up front, leaving the read unblocked so the QB can pull or hand off based on that defender's leverage. This is a base run play designed to attack the edge and gash light boxes, with the primary read being the backside DE or edge defender: give it if he crashes down the line, keep it if he sits or widens.
Defensive Reads
Watch the defensive end or edge player lined up over the TE, his first step tells you whether the QB will give or keep the ball. This play beats light boxes and defenses that sell out to stop the interior run, since the edge read forces the defense to defend two gaps with one defender. Heavy blitz packages that send extra defenders off the edge can blow up the mesh point before the QB can make his read, so watch for slanting fronts and edge pressure calls. Man coverage on the outside receivers does not affect this play since it is a pure run concept, focus your eyes on the box count and edge defender leverage instead of the secondary. User-controlled players spying the QB or crashing down hard on the mesh point are the biggest threat, if you see a defender sitting unblocked in the backfield pre-snap consider checking to a different run in the set.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, check the box count and make sure you have a numbers advantage before snapping since this is a designed run with no pass option built in.
Identify whether the defense is showing man or zone leverage on the edge defender, if he is crashing hard on every snap start pulling the ball and running with the QB to hit the alley.
Use the left stick to manually influence the mesh point timing against aggressive user defenders who try to shoot the gap and blow up the read before you can react.
This play pairs well with RPO Zone Peek and RPO Power Peek from the same set since all three start with similar mesh action, forcing the defense to respect both the give and the keep.
Best called on early downs or short yardage (3rd and 2 or less) when you need a high percentage gain and want to force linebackers to stay honest against future play-action shots.
