Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Stretch Alert Lookie is an outside zone RPO out of Singleback Wing Pair Heavy 12 personnel that puts a lookie route out of the backfield alongside an outside release read for the offensive line to stretch the defense laterally. The diagram shows the outside receiver running a deep dig type break upfield after a hard vertical stem, while the backfield player runs a shallow angle route as the lookie option underneath. The primary read progression starts with the alert key on the box count for the zone hand off, then works to the lookie route in the flat if a defender crashes down, and finally to the deeper breaking route if the defense sits soft and the box stays clean for the run.
Defensive Reads
Read the safety depth before the snap, since a single high safety often signals man coverage underneath that struggles to account for the lookie route. Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, as linebackers who step up quickly to fill run gaps open the throwing window on the shallow route. Identify if the defense is in a run blitz or an overload front, since this play is vulnerable to fast interior penetration that blows up the zone stretch before it develops. Zone coverages with soft underneath defenders will surrender easy completions on the lookie route, while aggressive man coverage on the outside can jump the deeper breaking route if the corner reads it early. Beware of defenses that show run blitz pre-snap but drop into a zone shell post-snap, since this can bait the quarterback into throwing into a sitting linebacker underneath.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and use the RPO alert key to decide between the zone run and the pass options instantly.
If the defense shows a light box with six or fewer defenders near the line, trust the outside zone run and let your line work its stretch blocking scheme.
If a linebacker or safety cheats down into the box, pull the ball and hit the lookie route for a quick easy gain in the flat.
Use this play on early downs in run heavy sequences to keep the defense honest, then follow it up with Mtn Power O or 26 Duo from the same set to punish defenses selling out against the RPO look.
Pair this with Mtn PA X Zig Flood later in a series once the defense starts crashing hard on the lookie route, since the play action shell off similar formation looks will hit the defense over the top.
