Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
WR Option lines up out of Singleback Doubles North with 11 personnel, showing trips-like strength to the right and a single WR to the left. The backside outside WR runs an option route, breaking in against zone or working back out against man leverage, while the backside slot WR fires straight up the seam as a vertical stem. To the right, the inline TE runs a quick out breaking outward at the numbers, and the outside WR takes a deep corner route to clear the top of the coverage. This is a man beater built off the option route, with the corner route serving as a zone clear-out and the seam and out routes giving the QB high-low reads on the strongside; primary progression starts with the option route read at the top of the drop, then works to the TE out as the checkdown against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Identify single-high safety shells like Cover 3 or Cover 1 presnap, these tell you the option route WR should break outward and the corner route can be man-beater material against Cover 1. Check corner alignment on the option route WR at the line, press coverage signals man responsibility and softens the option read, off coverage signals zone drop and an inside break. Watch linebacker depth over the TE out route, a shallow flat defender or a linebacker spying that zone will jump the throw so be ready to progress to the seam route instead. Post snap, track any user controlled defender sinking into the option route window or lurking the seam, that is the biggest threat to this concept and forces a hold to the corner route or TE checkdown. Against Cover 2 shells, watch the flat defender squat under the TE out route since it sits right in that zone landmark, and lean on the option route settling behind the underneath defenders instead.
Usage Tips
Read the leverage of the corner over the option route WR before the snap, if he is playing off you want to break the route in against zone, if he is pressed you break it away for the option beater against man.
Use the deep corner route on the right as a clear-out against single-high safety shells, it drags the deep defender away and opens a throwing lane underneath.
Hot route the TE out into a quick flat or speed out if you diagnose a corner blitz off the edge, it gives the QB a fast answer versus overload pressure.
This play hits best on second and medium or third and short to medium since the option route can settle into soft zones for an easy conversion.
Pair WR Option with Curl Drag or Stick from the same set so the defense sees similar route stems and cannot key on the option route WR presnap.
