In an option offense, the quarterback reads a specific defender after the snap and decides whether to hand off, keep the ball or pitch it, depending on what that defender does. Because the offense leaves the read defender unblocked and lets the quarterback’s decision account for him, it effectively gains an extra blocker somewhere else on the field. Common forms include the zone read, the speed option, the triple option and the run-pass option, or RPO. Option football forces defenders to play disciplined, assignment-based defense, but it also asks quarterbacks to make fast decisions and exposes them to more hits.
The core idea: reading instead of blocking
On a normal running play, the offense tries to block every defender who might make the tackle. In option football, the offense deliberately leaves one or more defenders unblocked and reads them instead. If the read defender commits to one ball carrier, the quarterback gives the ball to another. This creates a numbers advantage: blockers who would otherwise be assigned to the read defender can double-team or block second-level defenders such as linebackers. The defender is put in conflict, because whatever he chooses, he is wrong if the quarterback reads him correctly.
Types of option
| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| Zone read | The quarterback reads the unblocked end: hand off if he stays wide, keep if he crashes inside |
| Speed option | The quarterback attacks the edge and pitches or keeps based on the edge defender |
| Triple option | Dive back, quarterback keep or pitch, reading two defenders |
| Run-pass option (RPO) | The quarterback reads a defender to hand off or throw a quick pass |
The zone read
The zone read is the most common option play in modern football. The offensive line blocks a zone scheme and leaves the backside defensive end unblocked. The quarterback takes the snap, usually from shotgun or pistol, and puts the ball in the running back’s belly while watching the end. If the end stays wide to contain the quarterback, the quarterback hands off and the running back has one fewer defender to beat inside. If the end crashes down toward the running back, the quarterback pulls the ball and runs around him. The play became popular in college football in the 2000s and spread to the NFL with mobile quarterbacks.
The speed option
On the speed option, the quarterback runs laterally toward the edge with a running back trailing a few yards behind and outside. The quarterback reads the edge defender. If the defender attacks the quarterback, he pitches the ball to the running back. If the defender widens to cover the pitch, the quarterback turns upfield. The pitch should be a soft, accurate toss, and the running back must maintain proper pitch relationship, the spacing that keeps the pitch available.
The triple option
The triple option reads two defenders on one play. First, the quarterback reads an interior defender, often the defensive tackle or end, to decide whether to hand off to the fullback on a dive. If the dive read defender takes the fullback, the quarterback keeps the ball and attacks the next read defender on the edge, deciding whether to keep or pitch to a trailing back. The triple option is closely associated with the wishbone and flexbone formations and with programs such as the service academies. It requires a great deal of practice time but can be very difficult to defend for teams that rarely see it.
Run-pass options (RPOs)
RPOs combine a running play with a quick passing option. The offensive line blocks for a run, while one or more receivers run short routes. The quarterback reads a defender, often a linebacker or safety. If that defender steps up to stop the run, the quarterback throws to the area he vacated. If he stays in coverage, the quarterback hands off. RPOs have become a major part of offenses at every level. Because linemen are blocking for a run, rules limiting how far ineligible linemen may go downfield on a pass play are important, and those limits differ between the NFL, college and high school.
A brief history of option football
Option concepts have been part of football for decades. The split-T formation popularized option plays in college football in the mid-1900s, and the wishbone and veer offenses made the triple option a dominant strategy at many programs in the 1970s and 1980s. As passing offenses grew, the traditional option declined, but the spread offense revived option principles in the 2000s through the zone read from shotgun. RPOs later blended option reads with the passing game, and today option ideas appear in offenses at almost every level, from youth football to the NFL.
Why option football works
- Numbers advantage. Reading a defender instead of blocking him frees a blocker elsewhere.
- Assignment discipline. Defenders must play their assignments exactly; one mistake can mean a big gain.
- Neutralizes aggressive defenders. Players who crash hard can be taken out of the play by the read.
- Helps smaller lines. Teams with less size can compete by using angles and reads rather than overpowering defenders.
- Uses mobile quarterbacks. Athletic quarterbacks become part of the running game.
How defenses stop the option
Defenses counter option football with discipline and assignments. Each defender is responsible for a specific player, such as the dive, the quarterback or the pitch. Defenses also use tactics like the scrape exchange, in which the end crashes on the dive while a linebacker scrapes outside to take the quarterback, confusing the read. Other tactics include slow-playing the read, where the defender shuffles without committing, and shifting fronts to change who the offense must read. Good tackling and pursuit are essential, since option plays aim to create one-on-one situations in space.
Step by step: running a basic zone read
- Identify the read defender, usually the backside end.
- Take the snap and ride the mesh, placing the ball in the running back’s belly.
- Watch the read defender’s shoulders and hips.
- Hand off if the defender stays wide or shows contain.
- Pull and keep if the defender crashes toward the running back.
- Secure the ball and carry it high and tight after the decision.
Challenges and risks
Option offenses expose the quarterback to more hits than a traditional pocket passing game, which is a concern at higher levels where quarterbacks are especially valuable. The mesh point between quarterback and running back can lead to fumbles if the exchange is not clean. Option schemes also demand precise decision-making and significant practice time, which can make them harder to install for teams with limited practice hours.
Common mistakes
- Deciding before the snap instead of reading the defender.
- Looking at the wrong defender.
- Pitching too early or too late on the speed option.
- Losing proper pitch relationship between quarterback and back.
- Loose ball handling at the mesh point.
- Linemen drifting illegally downfield on RPOs.
Rulebook note: rules on ineligible linemen downfield, forward and backward passes and quarterback protection differ between the NFL, NCAA and NFHS. Check the current rulebook for your level.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a zone read and an RPO?
A zone read decides between a handoff and a quarterback run, while an RPO decides between a run and a quick pass.
Why do offenses leave a defender unblocked?
Reading that defender lets the offense use the blocker elsewhere, creating a numbers advantage.
What is the triple option?
An option play reading two defenders to choose between a dive, a quarterback keep and a pitch.
