Playbooks
Power Read is a run-first option play out of Shotgun Wing Trips WK that puts a true gap scheme power blocking call in front of a quarterback read on the backside defensive end. The offensive line pulls the backside guard to lead through the hole while the QB reads the unblocked edge defender, either handing off to the HB on the power path or pulling it himself to attack the alley if the end squeezes down. This is a run play designed to beat light boxes and gap exchange defenses, with the primary read being the backside edge defender's crash or contain decision.
Watch the backside defensive end's first step, if he sits and reads instead of crashing hard, the offense will likely see the ball pulled by the QB. Check linebacker depth at the snap, downhill linebackers who fill the power lane fast can blow this up before the puller gets set. Identify safety rotation post-snap, a quick rotation toward the trips side can signal a run blitz or an extra man in the box that this play struggles against. Look for defensive ends trained to play mesh point discipline, since disciplined edge players who stay square kill both the handoff and the keep options. Man coverage on the perimeter with no extra flat defender leaves the edge exposed to the QB keep, so aggressive corner alignment against trips can tip the defense's hand pre-snap.
Check the defensive end alignment before the snap since a wide 9 technique or crashing end sets up an easy keep for the QB into the alley.
Use this against six man boxes or defenses that show run blitz from depth, since the puller can climb to a linebacker before he fills.
Hot route the trips side receivers into quick stalk blocks or leave them on vertical routes to hold the safety if you expect a quick rotation to the run.
Pair this with PA Inverted Veer and Buck Sweep from the same set so the defense has to respect both the QB keep and the perimeter toss look off similar formation flow.
Call this on early downs or short yardage when you want a numbers advantage in the box, and avoid it versus defenses that consistently spill the read end since that removes the keep option entirely.