Playbooks
Mtn RPO Swing QB Draw
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn RPO Swing QB Draw lines up in Shotgun Split Slot Offset with 20 personnel and shows a designed QB draw with a swing RPO tag attached. The diagram shows the offensive line firing out to sell run blocking while the running back releases flat to the near side for the swing route as the read key, with the QB reading the box count before deciding to keep it on the draw or throw the quick swing. This is a run-first RPO built to punish light boxes and overaggressive linebackers, and the primary read progression is box count first, then the flat defender or nearest linebacker to the swing side to decide keep versus throw.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker depth at the snap since shallow, downhill linebackers are keying run and will vacate the flat for the swing throw. If the defense shows two deep safeties with off corners, that usually signals a lighter box and favors pulling the ball for the QB draw. User controlled defenders sitting in the flat or robbing underneath routes will take away the swing read and force the offense into the draw. A five or six man box with a linebacker walked up on the swing side is the key to throw hot immediately rather than let the draw develop. Cover 3 sky or buzz looks with a flat defender sinking late can bait the swing throw into a jump-the-route interception, so double check the flat defender leverage before releasing.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre snap and use motion out of the backfield if available to confirm man versus zone before the snap.
If the defense shows six or more in the box, get the ball out quickly to the swing route instead of forcing the QB draw into a crowded front.
Use this play on early downs in standard or nickel personnel to keep defenses honest and set up heavier run calls like Mtn Inside Zone or HB Sweep later in the drive.
Pair this call with Mtn RPO Peek Swing and RPO Zone Bubble in the same series so linebackers cannot sit on one read and start jumping the swing route.
Against aggressive blitz teams, take the automatic checkdown to the swing since the draw blocking cannot hold up versus a full A gap blitz.
