Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Zone Alert is a run-pass option built off an inside zone look from Shotgun Flex Y Off Close with 11 personnel. The offensive line executes the inside zone blocking scheme while the quarterback reads a designated second-level defender, usually a flowing linebacker or overhang, to decide between handing off or pulling and throwing a quick zone-beating route to the flanks. Your primary read progression is run key first, if the alert defender crashes down on the zone run, pull and throw to the pre-snap alerted receiver, if he stays home or drops deep to cover the pass, hand it off into the vacated run lane.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check linebacker depth and spacing, a linebacker sitting shallow near the box shows he is keying run fits, which tips your alert defender read Watch safety alignment, a two high shell with soft corners signals the defense is playing pass first, favoring the inside zone hand off portion of the play Post-snap, track the alert defender's first two steps, if he crashes toward the line of scrimmage to fill the run gap, immediately pull and throw the RPO route behind him User-controlled defenders sitting in a lurk position near the RPO route are the biggest threat, if you see a user spy hovering in that throwing lane, take the run instead Man coverage looks with the corner pressed on the outside receiver and no underneath help usually shut down the pass side, so lean toward the zone run read in those situations
Usage Tips
Identify the alert defender before the snap by locating the linebacker or slot defender who has run and pass responsibility, this is the key to the entire RPO
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to see if the defense shifts its shell, if the alert defender widens out to cover, run the ball into the space he vacated
Against zone shells with deep safeties like Cover 3 or Cover 4, the alert defender usually has to respect the run first, so throw the RPO route quickly before he can recover
Pair this play with Inside Zone in your call sheet so the defense cannot tee off on the run action, keeping the RPO Zone Alert as a changeup once the defense starts crashing hard
Best used on early downs like first and ten or second and short, since the built in run threat keeps the defense honest and the RPO throw punishes overaggressive linebacker fits
