Playbooks

RPO X Smoke

Shotgun·Ace Slot Offset·12

RPO Pass Play Run Play Bubble Screen

Play diagram for RPO X Smoke from Shotgun Ace Slot Offset in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetAce Slot Offset

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 3 playbooks

Henry Special Raiders OffenseOffense NFL Live Raiders OffenseOffense

Breakdown

RPO X Smoke is a run pass option out of Shotgun Ace Slot Offset with 12 personnel that pairs an inside zone hand off to the HB with a smoke route from the offset receiver to the boundary. The diagram shows the inside zone blocking scheme working left with the HB taking a downhill track, while the outside receiver runs a quick smoke and the slot defender is read to determine whether to pull the ball. This is a run play at its core with a built in RPO answer against light boxes, giving you a numbers based conflict read rather than a straight man or zone beater. Primary progression is presnap box count first, then post snap key on the flat or slot defender to decide give or throw the smoke.

Defensive Reads

Watch for the slot cornerback or nickel defender crashing down on run support presnap, that is your green light to throw the smoke immediately after the snap. If the defense shows a two high safety shell with soft corners playing off, expect the run fit to be sound and lean into the inside zone hand off. Man coverage with the corner playing tight outside leverage on the smoke receiver is a signal the quick throw will not have room to operate, take the run instead. Blitz packages that bring extra defenders off the edge or through the A gaps can be neutralized by getting the ball out fast on the smoke route before pressure arrives. User controlled defenders lurking near the flat or jumping the smoke route indicate the offense should abort the throw and trust the interior run blocking instead.

Usage Tips

Count the box presnap and if the defense has six or fewer defenders in the box, favor pulling the ball and throwing the smoke immediately for a quick gain.

If the box is loaded with seven or eight defenders, trust the inside zone blocking and let the HB work through his read on the interior run.

Use the flick of the stick or your assigned hot key to throw the smoke as soon as you diagnose the slot or corner sitting on the flat, this beats aggressive blitz calls and overloaded fronts.

Pair this play with Inside Zone and Outside Zone from the same set so the defense cannot sit on the RPO key and has to respect the full run game.

Best used on early downs or short yardage third downs where defenses are more likely to stack the box, forcing them to declare their intentions before the snap.