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Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
RPO Buck Alert Smoke is a run pass option out of Shotgun Y Trips Wk that pairs an inside zone run with a bubble or smoke screen alert to the trips side. The quarterback reads the flat defender or nearest slot corner off the snap: if that defender crashes down on the run fit, pull and fire the smoke immediately, if he sits or bails to cover the screen, hand it off into the zone run lane. This is a true run pass option and a zone beater since it punishes light box counts and defenders who cheat toward either element.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender or slot corner assigned to the trips bunch, since his first step determines whether the quarterback pulls or hands it off. Man coverage with the corner pressed on the outside receiver signals a run read, since the smoke throw is tougher to fit against tight man leverage. Zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with soft corners are where this play hurts defenses most, since the flat defender has to choose between the run fit and the screen. Watch for a linebacker or slot defender blitzing off the edge, since a fast overhang blitz can blow up both the run lane and the smoke throw window simultaneously. If the defense shows a nano blitz look pre-snap with defenders stacked near the line, expect the quarterback to peek smoke immediately rather than test the run.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, count the box defenders and check if the slot corner or overhang player is aligned outside the trips receiver in a soft shell, since that tells you the smoke is there for the taking.
Use this on early downs like first and ten or second and short so the run threat stays credible and the defense has to respect the box.
Hot route the outside trips receiver into a quick out if you see press man on the perimeter, since it gives the quarterback a second quick throw option against man coverage.
Pair this with Inside Zone or HB Base from the same set to keep the defense honest on the ground, then come back to this RPO once they start cheating linebackers into the box.
Alternate with RPO Peek Slant or RPO Zone Peek in the same set to attack different alert reads and prevent defenders from keying the smoke every snap.
