The Simplest, Most Effective Way for the Quarterback to Read the Stack on Midline Triple Option
December 10, 2025
The Simplest, Most Effective Way for the Quarterback to Read the Stack on Midline Triple Option
The Flexbone formation, which features the Triple Option at its core, demands extraordinary precision from the Quarterback (QB). When a defense aligns in a “Stack” look, it can often complicate the necessary reads.
To ensure success and take the guesswork out of running this high-performance offense, here is the simplest, most effective way for the Quarterback to execute the necessary reads against the Stack defense, based on the techniques taught by the Triple Option Football Academy.
Mastering the Dive and Keep Phases vs. the Stack
The fundamental goal of the Flexbone Triple Option is to force the defense to be wrong on every single play. Against a Stack, the QB must execute a series of rapid, successive decisions concerning the dive, the keep, and the pitch.
Here are the five critical steps the Quarterback must execute to flawlessly read the defense when running the Triple Option:
Step 1: The Snap and the Jump
1. Quarterback Takes the Snap.
The play begins with the QB taking the snap, ensuring immediate ball security and focus.
2. Quarterback Jumps into the Backside A-gap and extends his elbows.
The “jump” is crucial. The QB drives his momentum into the Backside A-gap aggressively while extending his arms. This motion brings the ball directly into the mesh point with the B-Back (fullback) and forces the first defensive read to declare their action immediately.
Step 2: The Critical Dive Read (#1 & B-Back)
3. Quarterback gives ball to B-Back UNLESS #1 or #2 can tackle the B-Back.
This is the central decision point for the dive:
Give: The QB hands the ball to the B-Back and follows through the dive path unless one of the following conditions is met.
Pull (Keep): The QB must pull the ball back and proceed to the next read if either the #2 defender runs through the B-Back or the #1 defender can tackle the B-Back. If either threat is present, the dive is canceled.
Step 3: The Keep Decision
4. If the ball is pulled, the Quarterback re-seats the ball, steps with his playside foot, runs off-tackle and scores UNLESS the unblocked defender can tackle the Quarterback.
Once the dive is canceled, the QB immediately transitions to the second phase—the Keep.
The QB executes the pull motion, stepping with the playside foot.
Then, the QB runs off-tackle. The QB is now the primary running threat.
Keep and Score: The QB runs the ball unless the #2 defender commits to tackling the Quarterback.
Step 4: The Pitch Phase
5. If the unblocked defender can tackle the Quarterback, the Quarterback parallel pitches the football.
This is the final decision point—the pitch. If the unblocked defender forces the QB to make a decision by coming up to tackle him, the QB executes a parallel pitch to the playside A-Back (slot back), completing the Triple Option progression.
Conclusion: Technique Wins
Mastering this sequence—from the initial jump and dive read to the keep and final pitch—is how your Flexbone offense can neutralize complex defensive alignments like the Stack.
The Triple Option isn’t merely a system of plays; it is a system of simple, effective techniques that require intense repetition. By focusing on the fundamental steps of the Quarterback reading the stack, your team can consistently gain yardage and put your program in position to win.
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