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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
RPO Alert Trap is a run play package out of Shotgun Double Stack with an RPO tag attached to the alert route on the trap concept. The offensive line executes a trap blocking scheme up front, pulling a lineman to kick out the defender at the point of attack while the backside stacked receivers to each side run alert routes (in and out breakers) that the QB can throw off if the read defender crashes down. The primary read is the interior box defender at the mesh point: if he steps up to fill the trap lane, the QB pulls and fires to the alert route on the overloaded side, otherwise the QB hands off and lets the trap block spring the HB through the crease.
Defensive Reads
Watch the interior defensive line pre-snap, if the defensive tackle is shaded into the trap lane the blocking scheme may not seal him cleanly, giving the defense a chance to blow up the run Key the linebacker depth at the snap, shallow linebackers who crash down immediately are your green light as a defender to jump the alert throw since the QB is reading you to pull and throw User the flow linebacker and stay disciplined, do not bite on the run fake if you suspect an RPO tag, since the trap action is designed to freeze inside defenders long enough for the alert throw to open Zone coverage with a hard robber or spy underneath takes away the easy alert throw read and forces the QB to trust the ground game against the trap blocking scheme Man coverage on the stacked receivers with no underneath help leaves the alert route vulnerable, so overplaying the run in that shell invites a big completion once the QB pulls the ball
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap, if the defense has six or more in the box this is your green light to trust the give read since the trap blocking scheme is designed to move numbers at the point of attack
Key the Mike or the closest inside linebacker after the snap, if he flows hard toward the mesh point pull the ball immediately and throw the alert route before he can drop into a passing lane
Use this on early downs (first and second and short to medium) when defenses are more likely to load the box expecting a straight run call
Pair this with RPO Alert Screen and RPO Zone Alert Screen from the same set to keep defenders guessing on which RPO tag is live, forcing linebackers to hesitate on every snap
If the defense starts sitting the alert route with a linebacker spy, go back to the pure hand off and let the trap blocking scheme work, since the RPO threat alone should have softened the front
Against aggressive gap shooting defensive tackles, this play punishes penetration since the trap puller can seal them out of the play once they commit upfield
Other Plays in Double Stack
Curl FlatFlat, Curl, Curl Flat +3- Empty Bubble Screen
- Empty Bubble Spot
- Empty Fk Bubble Post
Fake Screen GoPlay Action, Screen Pass, Go +1
Four VerticalsFour Verts, Pass Play, Cover 2 Beater +1
HB DrawDraw, Run Play
HB Slip ScreenScreen Pass, Hb Screen, Pass Play- Mtn Drive Slot Out
- Mtn Shallow Cross
- Mtn Slot Cross
PA Jailbreak ScreenPlay Action, Screen Pass, Wr Screen +1
RPO Alert ScreenScreen Pass, RPO, Pass Play +1
RPO Read FL ScreenScreen Pass, Wr Screen, RPO +2- RPO Trap Alert ScreenTrap, Screen Pass, RPO +3
- RPO Zone Alert ScreenScreen Pass, RPO, Pass Play +1
SmashSmash, Pass Play, Cover 2 Beater- Smoke N Go
Stack OutOut, Pass Play- WR Mid Screen