Playbooks

RPO Alert Zone Hitch

Pistol·Bunch·11

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Breakdown

RPO Alert Zone Hitch out of Pistol Bunch is a run/pass option built off an inside handoff look with a zone read hitch alert tagged to the bunch receivers. The quarterback reads the second level defender (usually the alley or Mike backer) to decide between the give and the pass, while the bunch receivers work quick hitches that settle in soft zone windows to punish linebackers who crash downhill. This is a zone beater at its core, since the hitch sits underneath cushion and exploits light boxes, but it also has enough man leverage on the outside release to survive tight coverage on early downs.

Defensive Reads

Read the Mike linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits at five yards or deeper the give is live, if he crashes the line of scrimmage the RPO throw is live Watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the shallow middle zone, this player is drafted specifically to jump the hitch route and can undercut the throw Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with deep half or deep third safeties tend to leave the underneath hitch open since the flat defender has run support responsibilities Man coverage with an overhang blitzer is the biggest threat to this concept, since the blitzer can beat the tackle before the quarterback finishes his run read Nano blitzes or aggressive A gap pressure packages force a quick decision, so key the defensive line alignment pre-snap and be ready to get the ball out immediately if the box is stacked

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap and only pull the trigger on the give if you see six or fewer defenders in the box with the alley defender staying wide

Use this on second and short or first down to keep the defense honest, since the run threat is what opens up the hitch window underneath

If the defense shows a hard flat zone shell like Cover 2 or Cover 4, hot route the bunch hitch runner into a quick out or slant to beat the flat defender before he can sink

Pair this with HB Dive or HB Duo earlier in a series so the defense starts respecting the run fake, then come back to this RPO to catch linebackers cheating downhill

Against man coverage look, motion or shift the bunch slightly to create natural rub leverage for the hitch route so the receiver gets an easy release into his zone landmark

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