Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
RPO Duo Alert Glance is a run-pass option built off the Duo blocking scheme out of Shotgun Y Trips Offset, giving the quarterback a pre and post-snap conflict read on the second level defender. The offensive line executes Duo double teams designed to climb to linebackers, while the backside slot runs a glance (skinny post) that attacks any defender who steps up to fill the run fit. This is a zone beater at its core since it punishes linebackers and safeties who trigger downhill on the Duo action, and the primary read progression is handoff first, then key the alerted defender: if he sits or crashes the box, pull and throw the glance immediately.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the alert defender (usually a linebacker or slot safety) is stacked in the box or shaded toward the glance route, since that alignment tells the quarterback who to key after the snap. Man coverage with no extra run support struggles to stop the Duo run action, so look for single high safeties and tight man corners as a sign this play is live for the ground game. Zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with an aggressive robber or curl-flat defender are the biggest counter, since sitting the alert key erases both the run lane and the glance window. Watch for a user-controlled linebacker spying the mesh point instead of committing to the run fit, since that defender can jump the glance route late and force an incompletion or pick. Blitzes that bring extra defenders off the edge do not affect this play much since the conflict is created inside, but a delayed inside blitz can collapse the pocket before the quarterback finishes his run-pass decision.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and only pull the ball if you have a numbers disadvantage in the run fit or if the glance defender bites hard on run action.
Use this against teams that load the box with a linebacker or robber safety since that is exactly the alert trigger this RPO is designed to punish.
Hot route the glance receiver to a slant or keep it as is depending on whether the corner is playing outside leverage, since inside leverage corners get beat clean by the glance.
Run this on early downs in normal or 11 personnel sets to keep the defense honest, then follow it up with straight Duo or Inside Zone from the same set once the defense starts sitting on the pass option.
Pair this with RPO Bubble Y Pop or RPO Glance Post from the same set to keep second level defenders guessing between flat, glance, and post reads out of identical pre-snap alignment.
