Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Read WR Screen lines up in Shotgun out of Spread Y-Slot Wk personnel with the outside receiver to the strong side running a quick screen route while the frontside receiver shows a run action key. The offensive line and skill players are reading the box count, with the run action serving as the pre-snap trigger for whether the quarterback hands off or pulls to throw the screen. This is a run-pass option built to beat overaggressive run fits and light boxes, punishing linebackers and safeties who crash downhill on the run fake. The primary read progression is box count first: if the defense stacks numbers into the run gap, the quarterback pulls and fires the screen to the perimeter WR, otherwise he hands the ball off into the run scheme.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, if they crash hard downhill on the run fake they are vacating the screen lane and giving up an easy pitch and catch. Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, single high alignments often mean more defenders in the box, which is exactly what triggers the screen read. Key the flat defender or slot corner assigned to the screen side, if they sit and read run they can blow up the screen for a loss. Look for defenses that bring an edge blitz or nano blitz off the screen side, this can beat the play before the quarterback even gets through his run read. User-controlled defenders sitting in the passing lane or lurking near the screen are the biggest threat, since a smart user player can jump the route and turn it into a pick six.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and identify if the defense has six or more defenders in the run fit, since that is your green light to throw the screen instead of handing off.
Use this play on early downs like first and second and ten to keep defenses honest and force linebackers to respect both the run and the quick perimeter throw.
If the corner over the screen receiver is playing tight man coverage, consider handing off instead since the screen lane will be condensed.
Pair this with straight Inside Zone or HB Base runs earlier in a drive so the defense commits to stopping the run, making the RPO screen read even more explosive later.
Combine this call with RPO Peek Slant or RPO Zone Peek in your play-calling sequence to keep the defense guessing on which route the quarterback will pull for off the run action.
