Playbooks

Exit RPO Zone Hitches

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Quick Reference

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Breakdown

Exit RPO Zone Hitches is a run pass option out of Shotgun 11 personnel that pairs an inside zone run with a hitch based passing concept on the perimeter. The zone hitches give the quarterback quick, low risk throws to the outside receivers sitting down at five to six yards while the offensive line executes zone blocking up front. The primary read progression starts with the box count and second level defenders: if the run fit is clean and the linebackers crash downhill, pull and throw the hitch to the numbers advantage side, otherwise hand the ball off into the zone scheme.

Defensive Reads

Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they crash hard downhill on run action the hitch throw window opens up on the perimeter Identify single high versus two high safety shells pre-snap, single high alignments tend to leave cornerbacks isolated with no help over the top on the hitch Key the flat defender or curl to flat zone defender in zone coverage, if he sinks or widens late the hitch sits in a soft window User controlled defenders sitting on the hitch route or jumping the flat can bait a run read into a stacked box, so have a run fit answer ready Man coverage with tight press corners takes away the easy hitch completion and forces a live run read into the box

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap and count defenders in the box versus your blockers to decide whether the run or the RPO throw is live

Use this on early downs like first and second down when defenses are showing base personnel and light boxes to punish light fronts with the run

If the cornerback plays off coverage with soft outside leverage, pull the hitch throw immediately for a free five to six yard gain

Pair this with Exit HB Cross Screen or PA Jet Sweep from the same set to keep defenses guessing between run, screen, and RPO looks off similar formation and motion

Against teams that sit their linebackers in run support every snap, hammer the hitch throw to make them respect the pass and open up the run game later in the series

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