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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
RPO Alert Out is a run/pass option built off Shotgun U Off Stack with 12 personnel, giving you an inside zone run look paired with an outside receiver Out route from the stacked receiver alignment. The backside diagram shows the stacked WR breaking hard to the flag pole at the top of the stem before snapping outside on the Out, while the running back mesh point run action stays live behind the offensive line. Your primary read is the alley defender or curl/flat zone player: if he steps up on the run action or crashes inside, pull it and throw the Out route into the vacated space, and if he stays home in the passing lane, hand it off and let the run scheme work.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat and curl defender pre-snap to see if he is aligned to jump the Out route or sit in the run fit. Check safety depth before the snap because a rotated safety often signals a run blitz or force player crashing down, which favors the pass side of the RPO. Post-snap, key the alley defender's first two steps since hesitation or run-fit aggression is your green light to throw the Out. User-controlled defenders lurking in the flat can bait the quarterback into a throw, so recognize a defender staying square instead of committing to run action. Nano blitzes off the edge or interior pressure up the middle can disrupt the mesh point, so identify overload blitz looks pre-snap and be ready to get the ball out fast on the Out route.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify the alley defender or overhang linebacker responsible for reading run/pass because he is your RPO key on every snap.
If the defense shows two high safeties with soft corners, favor the Out throw since the horizontal window opens quickly against off coverage.
Against single high shells with the corner playing tight man, trust the run action since the Out route window shrinks against aggressive man coverage.
Use hot routes to convert the backside receiver into a quick hitch or slant if you see the defense rolling coverage hard toward the Out side.
Pair this play with Inside Zone and Outside Zone from the same set so the defense cannot sit on the RPO key, then mix in RPO Zone Alert Screen to punish linebackers who flow too fast.
