Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
RPO Alert Glance out of Shotgun Wing Tight Z 13 personnel is a true run pass option built to punish light boxes and overaggressive linebackers. The play gives the quarterback an inside zone run look paired with a glance route from the slot receiver that breaks inside on a slant angle behind the second level. The primary read is the alert defender, typically the play side linebacker or the second level flow: if he steps up to fill the run lane, the quarterback pulls and throws the glance immediately, and if that defender sits or drops into a zone drop, the quarterback hands the ball off into the run scheme.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, count the box defenders and check safety depth, a one high shell with a stacked box signals the offense should trust the glance read over the handoff. Watch the play side linebacker's first step after the snap, hard downhill run fits are the green light for the quarterback to pull and throw. Post-snap, identify any user-controlled defender sitting in the throwing lane or spying the glance route, a disciplined lurk defender there can bait a turnover. Defenses that run zone coverage with a linebacker holding his gap and shuffling rather than crashing take away the easy glance throw and force the offense into the run fit. Man coverage with inside leverage on the slot receiver combined with a blitzing linebacker is the most dangerous look for the offense, since it removes the glance window and stresses the run blocking simultaneously.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at the box count to confirm you have a numbers advantage for the run before the snap.
Key the alert linebacker's depth immediately after the snap, if he crashes downhill on run flow, pull and throw the glance in the same rhythm every time.
Run this on early downs, first and ten or second and short, to keep defenses honest and force linebackers to respect both the run fit and the throw.
Pair this with Duo or Inside Zone from the same set so defenses cannot sit on the RPO key, then come back to Alert Glance once they start cheating a linebacker downhill.
If the defense shows a two high shell with light box numbers, take the automatic handoff rather than forcing the glance into a robber defender.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or speed out if you see man coverage to give yourself a second answer against blitz looks.
