Playbooks

RPO Alert Draw Stick

Shotgun·Trey Open·11
DrawRPOStickStick ConceptRun PlayPass Play
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.
Play diagram for RPO Alert Draw Stick from Shotgun Trey Open in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

Not in any team playbook.

Breakdown

RPO Alert Draw Stick runs out of Shotgun Trey Open with an HB draw mesh point and a stick concept read on the backside. The single receiver runs a vertical route to hold the corner, the trips side stacks a vertical seam route with a flat/out combo underneath creating a stick beater against zone drops, and the offensive line sells run blocking while the QB reads the alert key (usually the flowing linebacker or overhang defender) to decide draw or throw. This is a true RPO built to beat both zone and man coverage: hand off the draw if the box stays light, or pull and hit the stick flat route if the defender assigned to the draw read crashes down.

Defensive Reads

Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits at depth and does not crash downhill the draw lane opens up quickly behind the line. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells before the snap since the deep seam vertical on the trips side occupies the safety and creates natural spacing for the stick flat underneath. Man coverage teams that blitz the alert defender or overhang will get gashed by the draw since nobody stays home to fill the interior run lane. Watch for a user linebacker spying the draw read, if he stays put on the mesh point instead of biting, be ready to reset to the stick flat as your answer. Beware Cover 2 with a hard flat defender since that look can squeeze the stick route and force the QB back to the draw as a checkdown.

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap, if there are six or fewer defenders in the box the draw is live and should be your first instinct against base fronts.

Key the alert defender, usually a linebacker or slot corner, immediately at the snap since his flow determines whether you hand off or pull for the stick flat.

Use this on early downs (first or second and short to medium) to keep defenses honest and force linebackers to respect both the run and the quick pass.

Pair this with straight Stick or Air Raid Stick from the same set so defenses cannot sit on the draw key without opening up the flat and seam throws.

Hot route the single receiver's vertical into a quick out if you are facing aggressive man coverage that wants to squat on the stick concept.

Other Plays in Trey Open