• Shotgun Inside Read and Triple Part Two

    Read Triple

    The Inside Read Triple is a true triple option from the shotgun however it is a split flow triple option versus a full flow option from under center.

    Against the traditional double slot and teams that run the inside veer triple option from under center, they are bringing the back side slot in motion and getting into pitch relationship with the quarterback, for the play side linebacker this is a full flow triple option to him. He sees the fullback running for the play side B-gap and what usually happens is the 5-technique dive read will close on the offensive tackle’s inside release and will play the fullback, when that happens the play side linebacker will usually beat the offensive tackle over the top play side which is why you have to load him with the play side slot receiver.


    When the free safety sees the slot motion, the fullback’s track, and reads triple option he will fly down and run the alley and create a lot of problems. You could possibly have a situation where the linebacker gets over the top of the 5-technique so you have to block him with the slot, if the outside invert player runs out to take the pitch away you’ll have a free safety coming down hard to the quarterback with no one to block him.


    With the under center triple option the outside invert can get tight to the formation due to the alignment of the slot and you must get in a lot of practice time because when the quarterback comes off the fullback that outside invert could be right in his face and force him to pitch the football as soon as he disconnects with the fullback.


    The triple option out of the shotgun is now a split flow read for the play side linebacker, the inside zone will be run to the left, the quarterback will still read the same player that was read from under center. The difference now is that the play side linebacker sees the back crossing away from him and his initial reaction will not be to go over the top of the offensive tackle like he would against triple option from under center, meaning he may not react either way or may choose to play the inside zone and therefore the slot will not block him and will climb vertical to the free safety.


    Here again because the inside zone is being run to the left the free safety cannot push hard to the alley right away, if he does and there is a give read to the tailback and he gets through the second level there is no free safety. This gives the offense another advantage because the free safety must slow play the option to protect for the inside zone as opposed to the under center triple option.


    In the shogun you are able to spread the formation and the outside invert is removed further away from the formation. Now when the quarterback disconnects with the tailback, due to the alignment of the outside invert the quarterback has a little extra time to attack the pitch key and make the right decision with the football.


    The tailback and slot receivers can be both a zone runner and a pitch player, this allows for flexibility and multiplicity in the offenses attack. Conversely the option concepts should result in fewer defensive fronts, blitzing and man coverage’s which keeps it simple for the offense.

    Everything carries over from the inside read which makes the triple easy to install and execute, the only addition is the first defender outside the read key is the pitch key and the quarterback should attack the inside shoulder of the pitch key.


    Here just as with inside read the offensive line will block their inside zone assignments, it doesn’t matter what is happening in the backfield to them. The front side receiver will block a cross field cutoff assignment and on the back side both receivers will stalk block. The read key, who is the same player the quarterback read on inside read is designated as number one, the next defender outside which is the pitch key will be designated as number two, the next defender outside will be designated as number three and the slot receiver will be responsible for blocking him, if there is no number three, the slot receiver will block the free safety in an eight man front.

    Again the quarterback will read number one and if he chases the tailback flat and fast the quarterback will pull the ball, attack downfield and read number two for the pitch. If number one is slow playing the read or is hanging outside the quarterback will hand the ball off to the tailback, the quarterback and the pitch man will still then attack downhill.

    Versus a one high defense the strong safety will be the pitch key and the slot receiver will execute a level block linebacker to free safety.


    When running the read triple back to one stand up player, the quarterback will read the C-gap defender who is number one and will pitch off number two who will likely be a stack linebacker. If the linebacker plays the inside zone you really won’t have a pitch key, but if he hangs or plays outside the quarterback will pitch off of him.


    When running the read triple back to one stand up player versus a one high safety look the quarterback again will read the C-gap defender and will pitch off of the next outside defender. The offensive line will block as they normally do, however you want to make sure the backside tackle is able to get on the Mike linebacker so as to keep him inside.


    Using motion you can get the outside receivers involved in the pitch.


    Here again everything remains the same for the quarterback who reads the C-gap defender and pitches off the next outside defender. The slot recognizes a one high safety look pre-motion and knows he must execute a level block from the linebacker to free safety.

    You can also utilize the slot as the zone runner and the tailback as the pitch player.


    Again nothing changes for the quarterback or the rest of the offense. The slot comes in motion and becomes the zone runner, attacking the B-gap, the quarterback reads the C-gap defender and pitches off the next defender outside to the tailback. This will help give the defense another look after they start rolling safeties down off of the motion to play the triple.


    Here again showing the same look, just against a two high safety look back to two stand-up receivers.


    This is an example of running the zone triple with no motion. Here the slot receiver will backpedal to get into pitch phase.


    Notice the slot backpedals three steps to get into pitch phase with the quarterback, also notice the effect it has on the safety.


    Compare to NCAA Football where instead of back pedaling 3 steps the slot turns his body and comes inside which creates problems when needing to pitch the ball quickly due to pressure. Also notice, this has very little effect on the safety who just drops back into his zone.

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