Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
QB Power RPO out of Shotgun Empty Triple Stack is a designed QB run with an RPO read tagged to the trips stack side. The offensive line pulls the backside guard to lead the QB through the power lane while the read defender, shown by the red arrow, is the flowing linebacker or edge defender to the stack side that the QB keys before the snap of the run action. With five receivers out wide and no back in the backfield, the box count is stressed pre-snap, forcing the defense to declare numbers before the ball is snapped. Primary progression is run key first: if the read defender crashes down on the power blocking, the QB should be looking to pull and throw off the stack concept, otherwise he follows his puller downhill for the power run.
Defensive Reads
Watch the alignment of the second level defender assigned to the trips stack side before the snap, since that is the exact key the QB reads for the RPO decision. Man coverage with no extra run support in the box gets exposed by the power run since Empty sets remove a blocker but also remove a covered gap defender. A two-high safety shell with a light box favors the run, so defenses need to rotate a safety down without tipping it in order to have numbers. If a defender crashes hard and unblocked into the power lane, that is the RPO trigger for the QB to pull and throw, so aggressive downhill linebackers get punished. Disguised blitzes off the stack side edge can beat this play if the QB does not get the ball out quickly, since the pulling guard cannot account for extra rushers.
Usage Tips
Count the box pre-snap since Empty formations force the defense to show its hand with no running back threat.
If the defense stays in a two-high shell with only five in the box, take the automatic power run for a hat on hat advantage.
If the read defender to the stack side widens or blitzes off the edge, pull the ball and work your RPO throw to the stack rather than forcing the run into a bad angle.
Pair this with QB Zone Lt from the same set to keep defenders guessing between two different designed QB run schemes with different landmarks.
Use Verticals afterward on early downs once the defense starts cheating a linebacker down to stop the power run, since the stack alignment sets up easy vertical wins over an overaggressive front.
