Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Read Option is a zone run play out of Shotgun Y Trips Offset Wk with 11 personnel, showing a QB and HB mesh point behind the offensive line with the trips receivers and TE releasing upfield as blockers or decoys rather than running routes. The offensive line executes a zone blocking scheme to the play side while the QB reads the edge defender to decide between handing off to the HB on the zone track or pulling it and attacking the alley himself. This is a pure run play designed to punish overaggressive edge defenders and gap-shooting linebackers, with the primary read being the unblocked defensive end or outside linebacker on the read side.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side defensive end or outside linebacker immediately after the snap since the QB read hinges entirely on his crash or contain decision. Watch for a hard edge defender who stays disciplined and forces the give, then rally your linebackers downhill to fill the mesh point before the HB gets to the second level. Identify base 4-3 or 3-4 fronts with the DE staying square, since a patient EDGE defender who does not bite on the fake shuts this play down cold. Look for user-controlled defenders spying the QB or crashing hard down the line, since that either takes away the keep or opens a cutback lane for the HB. Against nickel or dime looks with light boxes, get an extra linebacker or safety involved in run support pre-snap to avoid getting gashed on the option keep.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at the defensive end alignment to confirm whether he is sitting wide enough to crash on the mesh point, since that dictates your keep or give decision at the snap.
Attack light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box, especially against nickel and dime sub packages that trips formations tend to draw out.
Pair Read Option with PA Read and PA Shot from the same set so the defense has to respect both the run action and the pass shots off identical formation and backfield action.
Save this call for early down and manageable distance situations like first and ten or second and short, where defenses are more likely to play base run fits instead of loading up with extra DBs.
If the defense shows a crashing DE on film or in-game tendencies, hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or slant as an outlet in case you need to bail into a pass concept post-snap.
