Playbooks
RPO Power Alert Screen out of Shotgun Stack HB WK pairs a Power run concept between the tackles with an alert screen to the HB, giving the quarterback a true run-pass conflict read based on defender numbers and flow. The blocking scheme pulls the backside guard for Power while the offensive line sets up a screen shield if the read triggers pass, making this both a run play and an RPO. The primary read progression starts with the read defender (usually the alley or flowing linebacker), then confirms flow to hand off Power if he stays home, or pulls it out to the alert screen if he crashes downhill.
Watch linebacker depth pre-snap, if they are stacked tight to the line expecting Power, hot route the screen mentally and prioritize the pull read Identify the alley defender or read key assigned to Power, his first step tells you whether to hand off or throw the screen Man coverage with linebackers in run support gets exposed by the screen since there is no lurk defender sitting underneath Zone shells with a linebacker spying the backfield or dropping into a shallow zone can jump the screen route and blow up the RPO read Heavy blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge open up the interior Power lanes since the alert screen removes a blocker from the box
Check the box count pre-snap and identify whether the defense is stacked to defend the run or spread out to take away the screen
If the linebackers are sitting in run fits with tight alignment, pull the ball and throw the alert screen for an easy pickup in space
Against aggressive blitz calls where linebackers crash hard on run flow, this play punishes over pursuit by hitting the screen immediately
Use this on early downs in run heavy personnel counts to keep the defense honest, then follow up with RPO Zone Alert Screen from the same set to attack different fits
Pair this with HB Slip Screen or PA Jailbreak Screen later in a series once the defense starts keying run and cheating linebackers downhill