Playbooks

Return RPO Alert Slant

Shotgun·Spread Y-Slot·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

Return RPO Alert Slant is a run pass option built off the Return concept in Shotgun Spread Y-Slot, giving the quarterback a give, keep, or throw decision based on the second level defender he is reading. The alert slant tag puts a receiver on a quick inside slant that acts as the pass option while the offensive line and backfield action sell an inside zone or return style run look. This is a zone beater at its core since the slant window opens up against soft zone drops and light box counts, with the primary read progression starting on the read defender (usually a linebacker or slot defender) then working to the slant throw if he crashes the run fit, or handing off if he stays wide or drops deep.

Defensive Reads

Key the linebacker or nickel defender aligned over the slot receiver presnap, since his run fit versus pass drop determines whether you hand off or pull and throw the slant. Watch for a sim pressure or nano blitz look where the read defender crashes hard on snap, which usually means the slant window is wide open behind him. Man coverage with the corner playing tight technique on the slot receiver can shut down the slant throw quickly, so be ready to check the run side of the RPO instead. Zone coverage shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with linebackers sitting flat footed in their drops create the cleanest slant throwing lanes since the conflict defender has divided run and pass responsibility. If the defense shows a heavy blitz package with extra defenders crashing downhill, trust the quick game slant since the ball should be out before the pressure arrives.

Usage Tips

Presnap, count the box defenders and check if the slot cornerback or nickel is sitting inside at a depth that allows him to jump the slant, since that changes your RPO read.

Use this on early downs like first and second and short to medium yardage situations where defenses are more likely to stay in base personnel and light boxes, making the run or slant window predictable.

If the defense shows two high safeties presnap, lean run since the RPO read defender is more likely to widen for pass responsibility, opening the interior run lane.

Hot route the slant to a speed in cut if you are facing man coverage with an aggressive corner, giving your receiver a cleaner release against press.

Pair this play with Bubble Screens or RPO Peek Slant in the same set to keep linebacker reads honest, since both plays attack the same conflict defender with different answers and force him to guess wrong over a series.

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