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Breakdown
TE Option out of Singleback Ace 12 personnel gives you a true option route from the inline TE aligned to the right of the formation, breaking to a curl or sitting down against the flow of the defender, while the two outside receivers run deep vertical routes (a corner-breaking go from the left X and a straight seam from the right Y) to stretch the field and hold the safeties. The HB releases to the flat underneath as a checkdown or flare option once the option route develops, and the offensive line shows a standard pass protection look with no extra blockers released. This is primarily a zone beater built around the option route reading the underneath defender, with the two verticals occupying deep zones and forcing a numbers advantage for the TE against a linebacker or nickel defender in coverage. The progression starts with the TE option route, works to the outside verticals if the defense rolls a safety down, and finishes with the HB flat route as the checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker or nickel defender aligned over the TE presnap, since a defender sitting shallow with no depth is telegraphing a zone drop the option route can exploit. Post snap key the flow of the underneath defender assigned to the TE, if he sinks into a zone drop the option route should settle in the open window behind him for an easy completion. Man coverage with a safety rotated to help over the TE shuts this down quickly, so look for press alignment or a defender mirroring the TE presnap as a sign to hot route or check to a different concept. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with underneath zone defenders are the most vulnerable coverages here since the option route sits in the soft spot between the flat and hook zones. Watch for a blitz look with the linebacker over the TE crashing downhill presnap, since that removes the option route defender entirely and opens an even easier throw underneath.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high shell, since the TE option route thrives against zone drops from linebackers who cannot mirror the option break.
If you see man coverage on the TE with no underneath help, hot route the option route to a hitch or speed cut to win quickly before the defender can jump the break.
Use this play on early downs or third and short to medium since the option route gives a built in answer against both zone and man without needing a deep shot.
Pair this with PA Post Dig or PA Post Cross Shot from the same formation to keep the defense honest on the option route key while threatening the same vertical stretch look.
Sequence TE Option with Curl Flats or Y Shallow Cross later in a series so linebackers who bit on the option route in prior reps get punished by shallow crossers or curl sits from the same personnel and alignment.
