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Breakdown
WR Option out of Singleback Ace 12 personnel shows a five man route concept with no run action attached. The backside X receiver runs a deep post while the outside TE to that side runs a corner route, giving a two level stretch on that side. The playside TE runs the option route, breaking outside or sitting down inside based on the leverage of the underneath defender, and the flanker on the line runs a shallow drag underneath. The HB releases into the boundary flat for a checkdown outlet. This is a man beater first thanks to the option route giving the TE a built in leverage adjustment, but it also holds up against zone since the drag and flat give you underneath zone beaters while the post and corner attack the deep zones. Primary read progression starts with the TE option route, then works to the post/corner side if the underneath defender is playing outside leverage, and comes back to the drag or HB flat as the checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker or nickel defender aligned over the TE option route presnap, if he is shaded outside expect the TE to break inside for an easy completion Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the biggest liability against this play since the post can get a step on the corner and turn into a chunk gain Sit a linebacker in a hook zone or spy the TE option route to take away the easy conversion and force the quarterback to hold the ball longer Cover 3 with a deep half rotation can be exposed if the flat defender bites on the drag route, so keep outside contain and let the corner route settle into a zone window Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can disrupt this play quickly since the deep routes take time to develop, so a fast interior push or edge pressure forces a quick checkdown to the HB or drag
Usage Tips
Presnap identify whether a linebacker or safety is shading the TE option route, that leverage tells you instantly whether the TE will break in or out after the snap
Use the manual hot route to convert the TE option into a fixed in or out cut if you diagnose man coverage presnap and want a guaranteed win against a slower linebacker
Against zone shells with two deep safeties, key the flat defender first since the drag and HB flat create a natural rub that clears him out for the post to hit behind
This play is best on second and medium or third and short since the option route gives you a high floor conversion piece plus a home run shot on the post if the defense sells run
Pair this play in a sequence with HB Dive or 26 Duo from the same formation so the defense respects the run fake before you come back to WR Option to hit the post for an explosive gain
If the defense starts jumping the drag route after seeing it on film, switch to Ace TE Drag or Quick Slants from this same set to keep the same presnap picture with a different answer
