Playbooks

RPO Read Mtn Stick

Shotgun·Deuce Close·12

RPO Stick Stick Concept Motion Pass Play Run Play

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Play diagram for RPO Read Mtn Stick from Shotgun Deuce Close in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetDeuce Close

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

Breakdown

RPO Read Mtn Stick is an RPO out of Shotgun Deuce Close 12 personnel that pairs a Stick concept to the field with an inside run read. Pre snap motion sweeps a receiver across the formation to the boundary, drawing linebacker eyes and setting up the run/pass conflict for the read defender lined up over the slot. On the play side you get a Stick concept: an out route breaking to the sideline underneath a vertical seam route from the inline TE, while the running back releases on a shallow drag path under the stick, giving you a built in checkdown. The primary read is the alert defender (usually the flowing linebacker or slot corner): if he crashes down on the run fit, pull and throw the seam or stick out, and if he sits in the passing lane, hand the ball off on the run track.

Defensive Reads

Watch the linebacker or slot defender assigned to the alert key, if he crashes on run action every time regardless of motion, bait him with the pass side of the RPO on run downs. Man coverage teams that send the motion defender across the formation are vulnerable to the seam route, since the TE can win vertically before the safety rotates over. Zone shells with a hard flat defender sitting on the stick out route shut down the quick pass option, forcing the QB into the handoff read. Blitz packages that bring extra defenders off the edge or through the A gap can be exposed if the QB reads the box count and hands off before the pressure arrives, since the RB drag also serves as a built in checkdown against blitz. If the defense rotates a safety down into the box after the motion, that is a strong indicator of man coverage or a run blitz, favoring the seam or out route over the give.

Usage Tips

Check the alert defender before the snap, if he is stacked tight to the box with no help over the top, lean toward throwing the seam route immediately off the snap.

Use the pre snap motion to identify man versus zone, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you are in man coverage and can hot route the out to a slant for an easier man beater.

This play pairs well with Mtn Stick and Mtn RPO Zone Stick in sequence, since all three share the same run action and stick concept, forcing the defense to guess between run fits and pass drops.

Best used on early downs (1st and 2nd) in run heavy personnel counts where defenses are likely to load the box, since the RPO naturally punishes overaggressive run fits.

If the defense shows two high safeties and a light box, take the give more often since the numbers favor the run, saving the pass read for when the safety rotates down.