Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Y Lead Read Opt is a read option run play out of Shotgun Wing Flex Offset with 12 personnel. The diagram shows the QB and RB in a pistol-style read look with the offensive line blocking down at the point of attack while a lead blocker (the yellow arrow) clears a lane for the dive, and the QB reads the edge defender to decide between handing off or pulling and attacking outside. This is a pure run play, not a play-action or screen, and the primary read progression is the QB keying the unblocked edge defender: give on the dive if he crashes inside, keep and attack the perimeter if he stays home on the RB.
Defensive Reads
Watch the alignment of the play side defensive end or outside linebacker, if he is sitting wide and squared to the mesh point he is reading the QB and can blow up either option. Check for an extra hang defender or spy near the line of scrimmage, this is the biggest sign the CPU or user defense is prepared to take away the QB keeper. Look for a stacked box with the strong safety creeping down, this suggests run support is loaded and the dive lane will be crowded. Post snap, track any user controlled defender flowing hard to the mesh point, aggressive crashers open up the QB keeper lane on the backside edge. Man coverage on the perimeter with no extra flow support is where this play hits hardest, while disciplined scrape exchange technique from linebackers shuts down both the dive and the keeper.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs in run-heavy sequences to keep defenses honest against your dropback passing game out of the same Wing Flex Offset formation.
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is stacking the box or showing a light front, since this play thrives against light boxes with only six or seven defenders in the tackle box.
Check the alignment of the edge defender on the read side before the snap, if he is crashing hard on run downs, plan to pull and keep on the perimeter.
Pair this with Inside Zone and Power O in your play-calling script so defenses cannot key the mesh point and jump the read option every snap.
Mix in PA Slide or PA Double Post off similar formation shifts to punish linebackers who start cheating downhill against the read option look.
