Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
RPO Alert Buck lines up out of Shotgun Trio HB Wk with 11 personnel, showing an offset backfield and two receivers to the left. The offensive line executes inside zone blocking as the HB runs the buck lane read behind it, while the two left side receivers stay in shallow, quick breaking routes designed to hold defenders in space rather than push vertically. This is an RPO run play at its core: the quarterback's primary read is the box count and second level defender flow, handing off on the zone run if the alert defender stays home or pulling to throw the quick route if that defender crashes down on the run action.
Defensive Reads
Watch the alert defender's initial step at the snap, if he crashes toward the line to stop the run he is opening up the quick route behind him. Pre-snap, check linebacker depth and spacing, stacked or tight linebackers signal a run blitz look that this RPO is designed to exploit. Man coverage on the receivers to the run side can be attacked with the quick route since the RPO throw beats man leverage before the defender can react. Zone coverage with a linebacker sinking into the throwing lane will take away the quick option, forcing the quarterback to trust the run fit. User controlled defenders sitting in the shallow throwing window can jump the RPO route, so vary between the run and throw to keep the user honest and prevent him from squatting.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and identify whether the defense is in a light or heavy front, since this play is built to punish light boxes with the run and heavy boxes with the quick throw.
Key the alert defender, usually a linebacker or slot defender, immediately after the snap to decide between handoff and throw in real time.
Use this play on early downs in normal or run heavy personnel situations where defenses are more likely to load the box and leave the quick route open.
Pair this with RPO Read Buck Bubble and RPO Buck Read Bubble later in a drive so the defense cannot key on a single alert defender or bubble route tendency.
Sequence this after a few hard inside zone runs so linebackers start cheating downhill, then hit the quick throw side of the RPO for an easy explosive gain.
