Playbooks

Orbit RPO Read TE Slide

Pistol·Wing Slot·12

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

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Breakdown

Orbit RPO Read TE Slide is an RPO built out of Pistol Wing Slot 12 personnel that gives the quarterback a run/pass conflict read on the backside linebacker or slot defender. The orbit motion sets up a give read to the HB on an inside zone track while the tight end works a slide route into the vacated area behind the second level. The primary progression is: read the motion defender's reaction, if he crashes down on the run fake pull and throw the TE slide into the soft spot, if he sits or bails then hand off to the HB running the zone scheme behind the line's zone blocking.

Defensive Reads

Against man coverage the orbit motion defender chasing across the formation is your green light to hand the ball off since the box numbers favor the run. Against zone shells watch the flow of the second level defenders, if they widen with the motion or bite on the run fake the TE slide sits wide open in the vacated zone. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with slow flowing linebackers get exposed because the underneath defender responsible for the TE area gets pulled by run action. Man coverage with an aggressive blitz or nano blitz look shuts this down fast since the RPO read defender fires upfield untouched, get the ball out immediately or check to the run. Watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field, a user controlled defender who stays home on the TE slide instead of respecting run action can jump the throw and create a turnover.

Usage Tips

Use the orbit motion pre-snap to identify if the defense is playing zone or man, a defender who follows the motion man across the formation signals man coverage and tells you to lean run since the box is likely light.

Key the second level defender closest to the TE slide route immediately at the snap, his first two steps tell you whether to pull and throw or let the mesh point run through.

This play shines on second and short to second and medium when defenses are conflicted between stopping the run and staying honest in coverage, it loses value in obvious passing situations against nickel or dime packages that remove extra box defenders.

Pair this with Mtn HB Zone Wk earlier in a series to establish the same zone run look, then come back to Orbit RPO Read TE Slide so the linebackers hesitate on the exact same track and the TE slide window opens up bigger.

If the defense starts sending an extra man into the box to stop the give, hot route the TE slide into a quick out or use PA Ctr Waggle later in the drive to attack the aggression from a different angle.

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