Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn Read Option lines up in Shotgun out of Wing Slot Wk personnel with 12 personnel on the field, showing two receivers split wide and a tight bunch of blockers up front with motion crossing behind the QB before the snap. This is a read option run play where the offensive line down blocks toward the play side while the QB reads an unblocked edge defender, either handing off on the mesh point or pulling it to keep and attack the perimeter. The primary read progression starts with the QB identifying the edge defender left unblocked at the mesh point, then reacting off his crash to decide between the give and the keep.
Defensive Reads
Watch the play side defensive end or outside linebacker pre-snap, since his depth and hand placement tell the QB whether he is crashing down the line or staying home for contain. Check for a scraping linebacker who flows hard to the mesh point, since a disciplined scrape exchange linebacker can blow up both the give and the keep. Zone coverages with a flat defender sitting outside can shut down the keep lane, forcing the QB to live off the give against soft edge contain. Man coverage with the motion defender trailing tight signals a blitz package behind it, so expect an extra rusher crashing off the edge on the snap. User controlled defenders spying the QB out of the backfield are the biggest threat to the keep read, so feel for a spy before committing to pull the ball.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is playing man or zone based on whether a defender follows the motion man across the formation.
Attack base 4-3 and 3-4 fronts where the play side defensive end is left unblocked for the mounted read, since slower ends struggle to close the mesh point in time.
Mix this with RPO Peek Slant and RPO Glance Post from the same set so the defense has to respect both the run action and the quick game off identical formation and motion.
Call this on early downs in run heavy sequences to set up Mtn PA Verticals later, since the play action shell off this look freezes linebackers who bit on the run fake.
If the defense shows a hard crash from the edge defender every snap, pull the ball on the keep read and get to the corner before the alley defender can fill.
