Playbooks
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Breakdown
RPO Alert Draw Stick lines up out of Shotgun Trey Open with three receivers to the right (two stacked at the numbers, one boundary vert) and a lone X receiver running a vertical route to the left. The right side runs the Stick concept: the inside slot sits at five yards while the outside receiver breaks flat, creating a triangle stretch versus zone or a natural pick versus man, while the read key (RPO alert) reads the flowing linebacker or nickel to decide give or pull. Underneath the mesh point, the RB runs a delayed draw with zone blocking up front, so this is a true RPO combining an inside run with a quick pass alert, and the primary read progression is QB reads the second level defender first for the give/pull decision, then works flat to stick to backside vertical if pulling.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the linebacker depth and alignment over the stick concept side: if they are stacked tight to the line, expect the RPO key to trigger a give since run support is loaded. Watch the nickel or slot defender over the inside stick route, since in man coverage he will trail underneath and open a throwing lane behind him, while in zone he will sink and take away the stick read forcing a look to the flat. Man coverage with no underneath help gets beaten easily by the natural pick created by the stacked receivers on the stick side. Zone coverage with a flowing linebacker reading run first is exactly what the draw is designed to exploit, so a disciplined backer who stays home on the RPO key eliminates the run and forces a delayed give with no room. Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with deep safeties are vulnerable if the alert vertical routes are live, so a user controlled safety must stay deep and not bite on the run fake to avoid giving up the shot play.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, check the box count and safety depth: if the defense has six or fewer in the box and safeties are deep, pull and throw stick because the numbers favor the pass. If the box is light and linebackers are sitting flat footed, hand the draw off immediately since the alert key is showing run support underneath. Use the outside vertical routes on both sides as a pre-snap alert against single high looks, since a cheating safety opens up the boundary shot even though it is not the called progression. Pair this call with straight Inside Zone or HB Draw earlier in a series so the defense commits to reading run keys, then hit them with the stick throw once linebackers start crashing downhill. Best used on second and short to second and medium where defenses often sell out on the run fit, giving the QB a clean stick or flat throw window. Hot route the backside single receiver to a slant or quick out on obvious passing downs if you want a true dual read instead of a decorative vertical.
