Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn RPO Alert Y Flat is an RPO out of Shotgun Ace with 12 personnel that gives the quarterback a run/pass conflict read based on the alley defender. Up front the offensive line runs an inside zone blocking scheme to the right side while the Y (tight end) motions across the formation and releases into a quick flat route as the built in pass alert. On the backside a single receiver runs a vertical release up the sideline to hold the corner and safety, while the QB reads the flowing linebacker or overhang defender: if that defender crashes down on the zone run, pull and throw the flat route to the Y for an easy pitch and catch, and if he stays wide to cover the flat, hand it off into the zone run lane. This is a run first RPO built to punish overaggressive linebackers and light boxes.
Defensive Reads
Watch the alley or overhang defender responsible for the flat, if he sprints to the flat before the snap or shows a hard outside shade, expect the QB to keep the ball and hand it off into the zone run. Linebacker depth is the biggest tell, linebackers sitting shallow near the line of scrimmage are keying run and will get exploited if they crash down on the motion. Man coverage on the Y before the motion snaps often leaves the flat wide open once the defender has to travel across the formation, so user control an underneath defender to trail the motion man. Zone shells with a hard flat/curl defender sitting at five to seven yards can sit on the Y flat route and force the QB to stay on the handoff read. Look for a nano blitz or edge pressure package that ignores the RPO conflict entirely, since fast interior pressure can beat the zone blocking before the run/pass decision is even made.
Usage Tips
Presnap, count the box defenders and check if the linebacker or slot defender aligned over the Y motion is playing run first or sitting to jump the flat.
If the defense shows a light box with six or fewer defenders in the run fit, key the run and let the zone play out.
Use the vertical route on the backside to occupy the corner and safety so they cannot cheat down and rob the flat throw.
This play works best on early downs (first and second down, run/pass balance situations) since it keeps the offense on schedule regardless of the read.
Pair this with Mtn RPO Read Slide and Mtn PA Slide in the same set so the defense has to respect both the zone run action and the play-action passing game off identical formation and motion looks.
