Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO X Smoke is a run pass option out of Shotgun Ace Slot Offset with 12 personnel that pairs an inside zone run look with a bubble style smoke screen to the boundary. The diagram shows the offensive line and TE blocking down for the zone run while the slot receiver runs a quick smoke route to the flat and the outside receiver stalk blocks his defender. This is a numbers based RPO: the primary read progression is pre-snap alignment of the flat defender, then post-snap decision to hand off the zone run or pull and throw the quick smoke if that defender crashes down on the run action.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the overhang or slot defender assigned to the smoke side, if he lines up tight to the box the run should hit for solid yardage. Watch for defenders showing outside contain versus crashing hard inside, since crashing defenders open the smoke throw immediately. This concept beats zone coverages that leave the flat defender occupied with run fits, since the numbers advantage funnels a free release to the smoke receiver. Man coverage with an aggressive corner jumping the smoke route can blow this up, so be ready to hand the ball off if you see press man on the perimeter. Post-snap, if a linebacker or safety triggers downhill fast on run action rather than staying in the flat, that is the green light to pull and throw for an easy gain.
Usage Tips
Check the flat defender or overhang before the snap, if he is sitting inside near the box you have an easy smoke throw for free yardage.
Use this on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short to keep defenses honest and force linebackers to respect both the run and the quick game.
Pair this with Inside Zone and RPO Alert Bubble in your play calling sequence so defenders cannot key on the smoke look without opening up the interior run lane.
If the defense shows a hard blitz or crashes numbers to the run side, pull the ball immediately and get it out to the smoke route before the edge defender squeezes the throwing lane.
Against man coverage on the outside receiver, the stalk block gives your slot smoke route extra time to work, so trust the quick game rather than forcing the handoff into a loaded box.
