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Breakdown
WR Option out of Singleback Wing Tight shows a true option route from the boundary receiver at the top of the screen, breaking upfield off the release and reading the defender's leverage before settling or continuing vertical. On the backside, the outside receiver runs a deep comeback to the sideline while the inside slot runs a shallow crosser underneath, and the tight end fires a vertical seam up the middle as the fourth read. This is a man beater at its core since the option route lives on the defender's hip and can convert to a hitch, slant, or vertical based on leverage, with the crosser and comeback giving you natural zone beater spacing versus soft coverage. Primary progression starts with the option route, then works to the seam, then over to the comeback and shallow cross if the defense sinks its underneath zones.
Defensive Reads
Man coverage with no safety help over the option route is the biggest vulnerability since the receiver can win at the top of his stem no matter which way the defender leans. Watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the shallow middle since he can jump the crosser or squat under the option conversion if the quarterback stares it down too long. Cover 3 with a deep half rotation to the option side takes away the vertical conversion but opens the comeback route on the backside since the flat defender has to widen for the crosser. Blitz packages that bring pressure off the edge closest to the seam route can disrupt the timing of the option read, so identify overload blitzes pre-snap and get the ball out on rhythm to the shallow crosser as the checkdown. If the corner on the option route is playing a hard press with safety help over the top, expect the route to be taken away and shift focus immediately to the seam and comeback combination on the opposite side.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, check if the corner over your option receiver is playing inside or outside shade because that leverage dictates whether he breaks in or continues vertical after the catch.
Use the manual receiver icon to control the option route release against man coverage so you can attack the defender's hip and win with a stick or vertical based on his reaction.
This play works best on second and short to second and medium since the option route and seam give you both a safe conversion and a shot play in one concept.
Against zone shells, look off the option route quickly and work to the shallow crosser underneath the linebackers since it settles into the natural void created by the seam route stretching the middle.
Pair this call with TE Option or Sluggo Seam later in a series since both rely on option or seam concepts and will keep second level defenders guessing on route conversion points.
