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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
RPO Alert Smoke is run/pass option out of Shotgun Trey Open HB Str with 11 personnel, showing inside zone action to the HB while the backside receiver runs a quick smoke route with the slot defender running an arrow/pivot route underneath the outside receiver's shallow drag. The offensive line executes zone run blocking, giving the QB a true alert key on the flat defender or overhang to decide between the give and the smoke throw. This is a zone beater at its core since the QB is reading the leverage and depth of the alert defender: if that defender sits inside or crashes down on the run, the smoke to the boundary is the answer, and if he widens to cover the smoke, the give to the HB is live.
Defensive Reads
As the defense, key the trips side receiver depth pre-snap since the smoke route fires instantly and there is no time to react after the snap if you are not already leveraged correctly. Play the alert defender with outside leverage and enough depth to still play the run, this forces the QB into a lose-lose read instead of a free access throw. Zone coverages with a corner sitting flat footed at the line get picked apart, use a defender who can slow play his run fit for a half second to bait the smoke throw into a jump. User the flat or slot defender manually on this concept to disguise whether you are crashing the run or sitting on the smoke, this removes the automatic alert key the QB relies on. Man coverage with inside leverage on the trips receivers takes away the smoke throwing lane and forces the offense to live in the run game, so stack the box and dare the QB to give it.
Usage Tips
Presnap, identify the alert defender (usually the slot corner or overhang linebacker) on the trips side before the ball is snapped since he is your entire read on this RPO.
If that defender is shaded inside off the ball or shows blitz, pull the smoke immediately for a free access throw before he can recover.
Use this play on early downs in run-heavy personnel to keep defenses honest, then pair it with straight Inside Zone or HB Mid Draw from the same set to sell the run look and force linebackers to commit.
Against teams that key the smoke with a flat defender sitting at five yards, let the zone run hit since the alert key confirms the box is light.
Mix in RPO Peek Bubble and RPO Peek Slant from this set on the same downs so the defense cannot pattern-match your pre-snap alignment to a single concept.
