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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
RPO Read Mtn Stick is a run pass option out of Shotgun Deuce Close with 12 personnel that gives the quarterback a give, keep, or throw decision based on the read defender at the second level. The diagram shows a stick concept to the play side with an underneath option route sitting flat and a vertical seam breaking up field past the read key, while the backside receiver runs a shallow drag all the way across the field as a scramble drill and man beater outlet. Up front the offensive line executes an inside zone run scheme, and the running back stays home to attack the run gap if the quarterback hands it off. The primary read progression starts with the run key defender in the box, then works to the stick and flat combo if the QB pulls it, with the drag as the last resort checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Key the alignment of the second level defender assigned to the run fit before the snap, if he is stacked tight over the guard or tackle he is likely crashing on run action. Watch for the flat defender's depth, if he sits shallow to jump the stick route the seam route behind him becomes wide open for an easy pitch and catch. Man coverage on the backside drag is a giveaway since the defender trailing across the formation opens up the shallow crosser as a checkdown against blitz pressure. Teams that bring an extra run blitzer to the play side often leave the stick and flat combo uncovered, so recognizing overloaded fronts pre-snap tells you to pull and throw quickly. Sound zone defenses with disciplined linebacker run reads and a deep half safety over the seam route are the best way to shut this play down since it removes both the run lane and the vertical answer.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs in run heavy personnel packages to keep the defense honest and force linebackers to respect both the run and the quick game.
Pre-snap, identify the alignment of the read defender over the play side tackle or guard, if he is sitting soft in the box the give is live, if he is crashing hard or widening out take the pull.
Against man coverage, the stick sit combo and the seam are excellent conflict beaters since the flat defender cannot cover both the stick and the arriving seam route.
Against zone drops, especially Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells, look immediately to the stick route settling into the void since the flat defender has to widen for the vertical seam threat.
Pair this with Mtn Stick or Mtn RPO Zone Stick in the same set to keep the RPO conflict defender guessing between run fits and pass drops across multiple snaps.
