Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
GT Read Option is a zone read run play out of the Shotgun Wing Trio set with 11 personnel. The diagram shows the QB and HB in a read option mesh with crossing paths behind the line, with the offensive line executing gap or zone blocking to the play side while the TE and outside receivers run off their assigned defenders to widen the alignment. This is a run play with no true pass option shown, so the primary read is the QB reading the play side edge defender to decide between keeping the ball or handing off on the mesh point.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side defensive end or outside linebacker who is the designated read defender at the mesh point, his first step tells you whether the QB will keep or hand off. Look for a light box pre-snap, if the defense has only five or six in the box this play hits hard, but a stacked box with eight defenders shuts it down quickly. Watch for user-controlled defenders spying the QB or crashing the mesh point, since a disciplined read defender who stays home takes away the keep option entirely. Check safety depth and rotation before the snap, a two high shell that stays two high post-snap signals lighter run support and favors this play, while a single high safety rotating down into the box is a run blitz key that should trigger an audible. Beware of interior linebacker blitzes through the A or B gap since they can beat the blocking scheme before the mesh point develops.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs, first and ten or second and short, when you want to stay balanced and keep the defense honest against your RPO and play-action packages in this set. Pre-snap, count the box defenders and identify if the defense is in a one high or two high shell since light boxes with only six defenders are ideal for this run. Watch the alignment of the edge defender you will read at the mesh point, if he sits wide crash the ball inside with the QB keep, if he crashes down hand it off and let the HB bounce outside. Pair this with Inside Zone and RPO Zone Peek from the same set so the defense cannot key on run tendencies based on formation alone. Against aggressive defenses that crash hard off the edge every snap, fake the mesh with a QB keep to attack the alley vacated by the read defender.
