Playbooks
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
RPO Alert Screen lines up in Shotgun Spread Y-Flex with 11 personnel, showing two isolated receivers to the left and a bunched screen concept to the right where the outside receiver runs a quick pivot toward the sideline while the slot man blocks downfield for him. The QB reads the box count and alerts into the screen if defenders crash on the run fake, or hands the ball off if the numbers favor the interior run. This is an RPO built as a run play with a screen alert attached, designed to punish overaggressive zone or man defenders who bite on the run action.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flow of the linebackers at the snap, if they flow hard toward the run fake the screen alert will be wide open. This beats aggressive man coverage and blitz-heavy fronts since the screen blocker can climb to the second level once the underneath defender commits upfield. Zone defenses that stay disciplined and keep a corner or safety sitting on the flat can jump the screen and blow it up for a loss. Pre-snap, identify if the defense is stacked in the box, a heavy box with six or more defenders signals the run read is dead and the screen alert is the better option. Post-snap, watch for a user-controlled defender lurking near the screen side sideline since that player can undercut the throw before the blocker gets in position.
Usage Tips
Check the defensive box count before the snap and only alert into the screen if you see four or fewer defenders in the box.
Use the run action against teams that load up with linebackers near the line to gain an easy screen conversion.
Pair this with RPO Peek Slant and RPO Zone Peek in the same set so the defense cannot key on one specific tag out of the RPO menu.
Best called on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage since the run action stays credible against run-heavy defensive calls.
If the corner on the screen side presses hard, hot route the blocking receiver to a quick release so he does not get beat off the line before setting his block.
