Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Zone Alert WR Screen out of Shotgun Trips TE Offset pairs an inside zone run with a bubble style WR screen alert to the trips side, giving the quarterback a pre and post snap conflict read on the flat defender or overhang. This is a true run pass option, so it functions as both a run play and a screen pass depending on the numbers and leverage the defense shows before and after the snap. The primary read progression starts with the alert receiver package: if the flat or slot defender crashes down on the zone run fit, the quarterback pulls and throws the screen, and if that defender sits or widens to cover the screen, the quarterback hands off the inside zone run behind the offensive line's blocking scheme.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, single high defenses tend to bring an extra run defender into the box which opens the screen read. Watch the slot cornerback or nickel defender's depth and leverage on the trips side, if he presses forward to attack downhill run gaps the screen should be wide open behind him. Post snap, track the flat defender's or overhang linebacker's first steps, a hard crash toward the line of scrimmage confirms the screen throw while a lateral shuffle to the flat should trigger the run keeper. User controlled defenders sitting in a lurk spot in the shallow flat can jump the screen route, so quarterbacks need to recognize a user pulling out of run support pre-snap and stay on the run read instead. Zone blitz packages that disguise the overhang and drop a linebacker late into the screen lane are the biggest threat to this play, since they bait the quarterback into throwing the screen right into a sitting defender.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and count defenders in the tackle to tackle area, if it is six or fewer in the box favor pulling the run trigger. Look at the alignment of the slot corner or overhang defender in the trips bunch, if he is sitting inside or shaded to take away the run gap that is your green light to throw the screen instantly. Use the RPO key defender read after the snap rather than guessing, watch for the flat defender's first two steps to confirm run fit versus screen drop. This play works best on early downs (first and ten or second and short) where defenses are more likely to sell out on run support and leave the perimeter screen open. Sequence this call with RPO Alert Bubble and RPO Trap Alert Bubble from the same set so the defense cannot key on one alert receiver tendency, forcing linebackers to hesitate on run fits across multiple snaps.
