Playbooks

RPO Counter Read

Shotgun·Split Slot Offset·20

Counter RPO Run Play Pass Play Power Run

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSplit Slot Offset

Personnel

202 RB · 0 TE · 3 WR

In 4 playbooks

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Breakdown

RPO Counter Read pairs a Counter run scheme out of Shotgun Split Slot Offset with an attached bubble or slant read on the perimeter, giving the quarterback a true give or throw decision at the mesh point. The offensive line pulls the backside guard (or tackle depending on the blocking rules) to lead through the hole while the backfield action mimics standard Counter, forcing linebackers to commit downhill before the ball is snapped to the perimeter route. This is a run first RPO that punishes overpursuing linebackers and light boxes, with the primary read being the flow of the second level defender assigned to the read route: if he sits or crashes down the QB pulls it to throw, if he stays home the counter hits the alley.

Defensive Reads

Watch the play side linebacker or slot defender assigned to the bubble or slant, his leverage tells you whether to pull or hand the ball off. Man coverage with the slot defender pressing tight usually signals a run key blitz, so expect the counter lane to be occupied and lean toward the quick throw. Zone shells with linebackers sitting in their drops are vulnerable to the counter run since the second level flows away from the pull lane, attack downhill in this situation. Watch for a user controlled linebacker spying the mesh point or crashing the A gap, this is the biggest threat to the give read and often signals a nano blitz package designed to blow up the counter before the pullers get set. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with safeties sitting deep tend to leave light boxes, making this an efficient run call, while Cover 2 man with an extra hitter in the box shuts down both the run and the quick game options.

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap and only plan to hand it off if you count five or fewer defenders in the box against your blockers. Use the pre-snap alert to identify if the defense is showing man or zone, since man coverage on the slot receiver usually means the read defender is flowing hard and you should throw the bubble or slant quickly. Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or hitch if you see a corner blitz coming from the perimeral read side, this gives you an emergency answer when the mesh read gets jumped. Run this on second and short or first down to keep defenses honest, then follow it up with Mtn RPO Read Swing or RPO Zone Bubble from the same set so linebackers cannot sit on the counter action. Pair it with Mtn PA Counter later in a series once the defense starts crashing hard on the run read, since the play action version punishes overaggressive linebacker fits.