Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Read HB Flat out of Shotgun Duo Slot Open is a true run pass option built off an inside zone look. The offensive line executes a Duo blocking scheme up front while the HB reads the box count on the give, and off the mesh the read shows two receivers running short in-cuts underneath while the outside receiver stems vertically before breaking into a corner route up the sideline. The quarterback's primary read is the second level defender: if that defender sits on the in-cut crossers, pull and throw the flat area or hit the receiver breaking outside vertically, and if the box stays light, hand off the run.
Defensive Reads
Watch the middle linebacker depth pre-snap since a backer creeping toward the line signals run support and tells the quarterback to throw immediately. Key the flow of the second level defender at the snap: if he steps up to fill the run lane, the underneath in-cut route is open in the vacated zone. Man coverage on the outside receiver with no safety help over the top is a green light for the vertical breaking route since it isolates your receiver against a single defender. Zone shells with a deep half safety rotated toward the play side can close the window on the outside break, so the quarterback should be ready to check down to the in-cut routes. User controlled defenders sitting in a shallow zone lurk can jump the short in-cut routes, so scan for a spying user defender before committing to that throw.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap by counting defenders inside the tackles before deciding whether you plan to pull the ball or trust the run fit.
Look for a linebacker sitting flat footed at the snap since a passive backer is your green light to throw the quick in-cut route underneath instead of handing off.
Hot route the outside receiver into a quicker breaking route against teams that show two-high safety shells to shrink the window and speed up the vertical option.
Pair this play with Inside Zone and PA Fin from the same set so the defense has to respect the same run action every snap, making the RPO key even harder to diagnose.
Use this on early downs in run heavy sequences to keep second level defenders honest, then dial up Levels or PA Flood once they start crashing hard on the run fake.
