Playbooks

RPO Trap Alert Screen

Shotgun·Double Stack·11
TrapScreen PassRPORun PlayPass PlayPower Run

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

RPO Trap Alert Screen is a run pass option built around an inside trap run with a bubble or alert screen tagged to the perimeter, giving the quarterback a pre-snap and post-snap decision based on defender counting. The blocking scheme pulls a lineman to trap the first down lineman inside while the screen flashes as the alert option if the box is loaded or a defender crashes down. This is primarily an RPO run beater against overloaded fronts, and the primary read progression is: count the box defenders pre-snap, then if the alert defender (usually a slot corner or overhang linebacker) sits inside or bites on the run fake, pull it and hit the screen quickly before the flow catches up.

Defensive Reads

Watch the defensive end and 3-technique alignment pre-snap, if they are shaded to crash inside on the trap, the RPO key defender is more likely to widen for the screen. Check the slot corner or overhang defender depth before the snap, if he is sitting at 5 yards or shallower he is likely reading run and vulnerable to the screen pull. Post-snap, key on whether a user defender abandons his zone drop to jump the running lane, that is your trigger to throw the screen instantly. Blitz packages that send extra defenders off the edge or through the A gap on a delayed timing can blow up the trap before the mesh point, so recognize pressure pre-snap and be ready to bail to the screen early. Man coverage with an aggressive slot defender crashing downhill on run action leaves the screen wide open, while disciplined zone defenses that stay home in their drops force you to trust the trap run instead.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at the box count before the snap to decide if you are locking in on the run or staying alert to the screen key defender.

This play punishes defenses that load the box with 7 or more defenders since the alert screen becomes an easy conversion once the QB reads the flow.

Combine it in a sequence with RPO Alert Screen and RPO Alert Trap from the same Double Stack set so defenders cannot key on formation tendencies, forcing user defenders to guess run or screen every snap.

Best called on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and short) to stay ahead of the sticks, since the trap run portion is designed to pick up positive yardage even without pulling the RPO trigger.

If the user jumps the running lane with a spy or blitzing linebacker, pull the ball immediately and get the screen out before the second level defenders diagnose it, since hesitation kills the timing on the perimeter blockers.

Other Plays in Double Stack