Playbooks

RPO Alert Flip Counter

Shotgun·Y Off Trips Wk·11

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetY Off Trips Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Browns OffenseOffense NFL Live Browns OffenseOffense

Breakdown

RPO Alert Flip Counter is a run-pass option built off the Flip Counter run scheme out of Shotgun Trips. The quarterback reads the alert defender (typically the play side flat or overhang defender) before the snap and post snap to decide between handing off the counter action or pulling to throw the bubble or flat concept out of the trips side. The primary read progression is pre-snap numbers and defender alignment first, then a live post-snap key on the alert defender crashing down or sitting to determine give or throw.

Defensive Reads

Watch for the alert defender's initial step at the snap, if he widens with the bubble or flat receiver, take the run since the edge is now clean. Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, single high often means an extra run defender in the box making the pass option more attractive. Look for linebackers cheating toward the counter action pre-snap, that flow tells you the RPO throw side is likely open. Beware of a user controlled defender sitting in the flat or bubble lane, that is the biggest threat to shut down the pass option and force the run. Man coverage on the outside with no underneath help funnels this play toward the run since the counter blocking scheme has numbers advantage.

Usage Tips

Check the box count on the trips side before the snap, if the defense is outnumbered in that area, throw the bubble or flat quickly for an easy gain.

If the alert defender bites hard on the run action, pull the ball and get it out fast to the flip side since the defender's momentum is already lost.

Use this on early downs like first or second and short to medium to keep the defense honest between run and pass.

Pair this with HB Flip Counter and PA Flip Counter in the same set so the defense cannot key on the mesh point action and has to respect both the run fake and the RPO look.

Against aggressive linebacker flow teams, let the counter action hit downhill since the alert key will often be late reacting to misdirection.