Playbooks
Breakdown
RPO Read WR Screen lines up out of Shotgun Y Off Trips with 11 personnel, showing a trips bunch look to the right where the outside receiver runs a quick screen route while the two inside trips receivers block down at the second level. The single receiver to the left runs a vertical release up the sideline to hold the corner, and the interior offensive line executes an inside zone run block scheme to sell the run fake to the RB. The primary read is the box count and force defender: if the defense is light in the box or the flat defender bites on run action, the QB pulls and fires the WR screen to the trips side, otherwise he hands off into the zone run.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense has stacked the box for run support, since a heavy box signals the QB should pull and throw the bubble/WR screen. Watch the slot or flat defender assigned to the trips bunch, quick outside leverage and depth indicate he is sitting on the screen, which should push the QB to hand the ball off instead. Man coverage on the outside vertical receiver with no safety help over the top can be attacked later with play-action shots off this same look, but on this rep it simply occupies the corner. User-controlled defenders who crash hard on the RB mesh point open up the screen lane, so mirror the trips blockers instead of biting on the fake to stay in position. Zone shells with linebackers sitting at intermediate depth and maintaining outside contain shut down both the screen and the cutback lanes, forcing this play into a low value hand off.
Usage Tips
Check the defensive box count before the snap and count defenders in the box versus blockers to decide whether the screen or the run will hit.
Look at the flat or slot defender aligned over the trips bunch, if he crashes down on run action or blitzes off the edge, throw the screen immediately for a numbers advantage.
Use the outside vertical route as a clock killer against soft corners, it occupies the corner and any deep half safety so the screen blocker has room to work.
Pair this play with Inside Zone and RPO Bubble Y Pop in the same set so the defense cannot key run fits versus screen action, keeping linebackers honest.
Call this on early downs (first or second and manageable) when defenses are more willing to sell out against the run, since the RPO mesh punishes aggressive run fits.
