Playbooks

RPO Read Out

Shotgun·Flex Y Off Close·11

RPO Out Pass Play Run Play

Likely unavailable in the playbook builder

This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Play diagram for RPO Read Out from Shotgun Flex Y Off Close in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetFlex Y Off Close

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

Breakdown

RPO Read Out lines up out of Shotgun Flex Y Off Close with 11 personnel and gives the quarterback a run/pass conflict built on an out route from the boundary receiver. The X receiver runs a hard out to the sideline while the two inside receivers run vertical stems (a seam and a hitch/curl) to hold the second and third level defenders, and the running back releases into a shallow flat read off the mesh point to occupy the alley defender. This is a true RPO built to attack light boxes and off-man leverage, with the primary read being the flat/out defender: if that defender squats on the run fake or crashes down, the quarterback pulls and throws the out route for an easy pitch and catch, and if he stays wide the inside zone handoff is live.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flat defender or curl/flat player in zone coverage since he is the true key for the entire concept, if he widens with the out route the run is live and if he sits the throw is live. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with off corners are prime targets because the out route sits in the natural void behind the corner and in front of the safety. Man coverage with an overaggressive slot corner jumping the out route opens up the seam route behind him, so be ready to hit that window if you see man leverage bail hard to the flat. Watch for a linebacker or safety crashing hard downhill pre-snap, which signals a run blitz and should trigger an automatic pass read since the box count no longer supports the zone run. Tight man coverage with a physical corner who stays square on the out route can shut this down, especially if there is no help defender occupying the flat area for the running back's route.

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap and give the ball to the running back on inside zone if you count six or fewer defenders in the box. Use pre-snap motion or a hot route on the vertical seam to convert it into a deep shot if you see a single high safety cheating toward the run action. Key the flat or curl/flat defender immediately after the snap since his leverage determines whether you pull and throw the out or stay in the run mesh. This play pairs well with RPO Zone Alert in your call sheet since both use similar mesh action but attack different landmarks, keeping linebackers guessing on run fits. Call RPO Read Out on early downs in normal or nickel personnel packages where defenses are more likely to sit in base fronts with light boxes.