Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
RPO Zone Omaha Hitch is a run pass option out of Shotgun 11 personnel that pairs an inside zone run with a quick hitch and Omaha-style read package on the perimeter. The quarterback reads the second level defender (usually the play side linebacker or a crashing safety) to decide between handing off the zone run or pulling and firing the hitch route for an easy pickup. This is a zone beater at its core because the hitch sits down in soft spots vacated by zone drops, while the zone run keys off numbers in the box.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a light box pre-snap, since defenses in two high safety shells with only five in the box are begging you to take the give on the zone run. Post-snap, track the play side linebacker's first step: if he sits or flows to cover the hitch window, hand the ball off into the vacated run lane. Zone drops from Tampa 2 or Cover 3 flow defenders will leave the hitch throwing lane open underneath, making this a strong answer against those shells. Man coverage looks with a corner pressed on the hitch receiver and no help underneath will shut down the pass option, so be ready to trust the run fit instead. Beware of a nano blitz or crashing edge defender on the play side, since a fast user rush can disrupt the mesh point before you get a clean read on the linebacker.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap and if the defense is showing six or more defenders in the box, lean toward pulling the ball for the hitch instead of forcing the zone run into a stacked front.
Use your pre-snap key read on the play side linebacker: if he crashes down on run action, throw the hitch immediately since the window opens fast against zone coverage.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or slant if you are facing man coverage on the perimeter, since the base hitch alone will not separate cleanly from tight man corners.
This play works best on second and short to medium distance situations where defenses respect the run but have not fully committed extra bodies into the box.
Pair this call with Inside Zone and RPO Zone Stick in the same set to keep the defense guessing between true runs and RPO reads, since all three share the same zone blocking look and force linebackers to hesitate on their run fits.
