Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Jet Alert Slant is a run-pass option out of Pistol Doubles Hip that pairs jet motion with an inside run scheme and a quick slant/alert combo to the passing strength. The quarterback reads the play side flow defender (usually the alerted linebacker or slot defender) to decide between handing off, keeping on the give read, or pulling and throwing the slant off the leverage of that key defender. This is a run-first RPO with a built in man and light zone beater, since the slant sits underneath and can be thrown quickly against off coverage or a defender who steps up to fill the run gap.
Defensive Reads
Watch the alert defender, typically a linebacker or slot corner, and see if he crashes down on the run action or sits back to cover the slant. Man coverage shells that trail the jet motion across the formation confirm man beater potential for the slant, since the trailing defender will be out of phase. Zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with a linebacker sinking under the slant route can shut down the pass option, forcing you to trust the run fit instead. Look for blitzes off the edge or interior pressure packages, since a fast blitz can beat the RPO read before the quarterback can process the alert key. If the safety rotates down pre-snap to add a run defender, that is a strong indicator the defense is selling run, which favors throwing the slant against the vacated space.
Usage Tips
Check the defender aligned over the slant side receiver before the snap, if he is playing off or shows run fill responsibility that is your green light to throw the slant immediately.
Use jet motion to force the defense to declare man or zone, if a defender runs with the motion man you have confirmation of man coverage and can lean run or hit the slant against a trailing defender.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or hitch if you expect a blitz, since this gives you a second answer when the primary alert read is taken away.
This play works best on early downs (1st and 2nd and short to medium) where defenses are more likely to sell out against the run, opening up the slant window.
Pair this with RPO Alert Jet Slant and Zone Fake Jet from the same set to keep defenses guessing on jet motion tendencies, forcing linebackers to hesitate on run fits which widens both your run lanes and your RPO throwing windows.
