Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
RPO Read FL Screen is a run pass option out of Shotgun Doubles 11 personnel that pairs an inside run action with a flanker screen to the field. The diagram shows the flanker working back toward the line of sale for the bubble style screen while the rest of the formation runs off coverage, and the offensive line stays on its run blocking track to sell the ground game. The primary read progression starts with the quarterback keying the play side flat defender or overhang: if that defender crashes on the run fake or sits inside, the QB pulls it and throws the quick flanker screen, and if that defender stays wide to take away the screen the QB hands off or keeps the ball on the run concept.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat or overhang defender at the snap, if he immediately attacks downhill on the run fake he is out of position to defend the flanker screen. Zone coverage shells with a hard corner sitting on the flanker route can jump the screen and blow it up for a loss. Man coverage that has the corner or nickel pressed on the flanker gives him no room to see the play develop, which favors the run side of the RPO. User controlled defenders spying the backfield or reading the quarterback's eyes can undercut the screen throw, so quarterbacks need a clean, late-developing eye trigger. A disciplined defensive line that stays home instead of crashing on the run fake, combined with a linebacker scraping to the flat, is the surest way to take away both options on this play.
Usage Tips
Check the alignment of the flat defender or slot corner before the snap because his depth and leverage tell you whether the screen or the run is live.
Use this against teams that load the box or show aggressive run blitz fronts, since a crashing linebacker or overhang defender opens the screen instantly.
Hot route the backside receivers into simple hitches or clear outs if you see man coverage so they do not run into the screen lane and clutter blocking angles.
Pair this with RPO Peek Slant or RPO Zone Peek earlier in a drive so defenders start hesitating on run fits, which makes the flanker screen even more explosive later.
Best used on early downs or third and short where defenses are more likely to sell out against the run and leave the perimeter light.
