Power blocking the read option

The redundantly named "read option" play caught on in the NFL last season with breakthrough performances from the likes of the 49ers' Colin Kaepernick and the Redskins' Robert Griffin III, after a decade of success in the major college ranks.  The play nearly always uses zone blocking, occasionally with a lead blocker, but there's no reason why it couldn't be run with power blocking instead.  In fact, for some teams power blocking the play may be a more efficient use of available talent.

Background

The term "read option" doesn't have a precise definition, but it normally refers to a family of related plays with two common characteristics:

1. the quarterback executes an option in which he and the other potential ballcarrier run to opposite sides of the formation, and
2. a defender to the side of the quarterback's run path is left unblocked as the option key.

Here is a basic diagram of the zone read play.  Extraneous receivers are left out of the diagrams for simplicity, but they would be stalk blocking or running their defenders deep depending on the defense.

In the basic zone read, the line executes an inside zone blocking scheme, here leading to combo blocks by the LG and C on the nose tackle, and by the RG and RT on the 3 technique.  These defenders are blocked horizontally along the line of scrimmage in the direction of their initial movement, with the offensive lineman away from this movement scraping off to the linebacker behind.  Q reads the unblocked DE and gives every time unless the DE chases down the line toward the F back.  F, if he gets the ball, runs to the heels of his linemen, reads their blocks, and cuts to the open lane.  

Power Read Option

Various wrinkles can be added to this basic structure, including lead blockers, a pitch man to create a triple option, or a bubble screen to an inside receiver.  One constant, however, is the blocking scheme.  I have rarely, if ever, seen the read play without zone blocking.  Here's how it would look with power blocking instead:

In the power blocked version of the play, the LT "reads up," double teaming with the LG until and unless the N has been sealed inside, then going up to the linebacker level.  The C and RT protect the pulling RG, who pulls and kicks out the left DE.  The C will not likely be able to scrape to the Sam LB, but that doesn't matter much; Sam will have to get around the LT/Mike collision to reach the ballcarrier.  Q executes the same read as before, and F, if he gets the ball, cuts off the block of the pulling RG.

If it Ain't Broke...

The zone read is an effective play; why change it to power blocking?  Here are a few possible reasons:

• Offensive line skillset.  Zone blocking requires athletic linemen who can overtake a defender in their zone, pass him off to a teammate, and get to the linebacker.  If one player on the line can't accomplish this task, the play can blow up.  Power blocking lets linemen play to their strengths: pulling guards must be athletic, but tackles less so.  A strong but immobile center can be effective, since his only assignment is to seal his nearest gap, away from the play.
• Tailback skillset.  Zone running requires a patient approach to the hole, followed by a quick decision and a burst to open space.  An indecisive runner or one without great change of direction skills may struggle, even with great speed, vision, strength, and balance.  In a power scheme, the runner just follows his pulling guard and cuts off his block.
• Consistency of scheme.  For teams that want to run the read option, but already use a power scheme like the Wing-T, avoiding teaching a whole new set of skills saves precious practice time.
• Because the kickout block creates a new gap, the defense cannot cover all playside gaps and force the runner to cut all the way back to the unblocked DE (hard to do in practice but possible). 
• Blocking angles are more severe with down blocking and kickouts than with zone reach blocks.
• A small error in a zone block frequently leads to a holding call.  Purists who prefer not to hold, or teams with low tolerance for penalties, may prefer to block down and kick out.
• Opportunities for even more power.  Against certain fronts, an additional pulling lineman may be added, turning a power into a super power:

Against an under front, the center may be able to handle the 1 technique nose guard by himself, freeing the RT to pull and lead through the hole in a "Super Power" scheme reminiscent of the Single Wing and Double Wing offenses.  This allows the LT and LG to execute a true double team block, pushing the 3 technique tackle backward and expanding the running lane.  

Of course there are downsides to power blocking as well.  The angles of the play dictate that the weak inside linebacker will probably be unblocked if the quarterback keeps the ball, though that is very likely in the zone scheme too.  Depending on the offense's scheme and philosophy, pulling linemen may help or hurt in setting up the playaction pass.  Finally, adding a tight end, slotback, or wingback to the blocking surface, or going unbalanced, will change the rules for some of the linemen, whereas in a zone scheme everyone just blocks zone right or zone left. But for certain teams, with certain players, the power read option might be a perfect fit.