Playbooks
RPO Alert Out is a run pass option built off an inside zone look from Shotgun Wing Trips WK, giving the quarterback a pre and post snap choice between handing off or throwing a quick out breaking route. The zone blocking scheme creates a run lane between the tackles while the alert receiver, typically the trips side outside receiver, works a hard out route that beats off man leverage or capitalizes on light box counts. The primary read is the run alert key defender: if that defender crashes down on the run fit, pull and throw the out route immediately, if he stays wide or bails into coverage, hand off and let the zone scheme work.
Watch the alert key defender at the snap, if he flows hard downhill into the run fit the out route window opens immediately for an easy completion Look for cornerback alignment on the trips side, soft outside shade or bail technique signals zone drops and should push you toward the handoff instead of the throw Identify single high safety shells like Cover 3 or Cover 1, these often leave the alert defender in conflict and are prime spots for the out route to hit Beware of Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells where the corner sits on the out route, since the flat defender can sink and undercut the throw for a turnover User controlled defenders sitting on the flat or triggering a nano blitz off the edge can shut down both the run and the quick game read, so have a hot route answer ready if you see that pre snap alignment
Check the box count before the snap, if the defense shows six or more in the box the out route should be your first instinct rather than the handoff
Identify man coverage on the alert receiver pre snap, since the out route is a legitimate man beater against press or tight outside technique corners
Use this play on early downs in the 1st and 10 or 2nd and short range where defenses are more likely to sell out against the run
Pair this call with Inside Zone Split or Mtn Inside Zone Split earlier in a series so the defense keys run fits, then hit them with the RPO Alert Out to punish overaggressive linebackers
Hot route the backside slot into a quick option or hitch if you expect a blitz look, giving the quarterback a fast alert if the primary out route is jumped
Do not force the out throw into a hard zone shell, trust the run fit instead and let the offensive line work the scheme