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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
RPO Alert Dive Smoke is a run pass option out of Singleback Wing Pair 13 personnel that gives the QB a pre-snap and post-snap decision between a dive run up the middle and a smoke route to the boundary. The diagram shows the HB running a dive path through the A gap behind the interior line while a receiver runs a quick smoke route to the flat, marked by the red arrow route outside. The primary read progression starts with the alert key: identify whether the slot or flat defender widens to take away the smoke, and if that defender sits inside or crashes on the dive, pull the ball and throw the smoke immediately.
Defensive Reads
Man coverage defenses that lock the flat defender in man tend to give up the smoke instantly since the defender opens hips and cannot close in time. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells that keep the flat defender at depth are vulnerable to the dive since the box count often favors the run. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if the alley defender crashes down hard to stop the dive the smoke window opens up outside. User controlled defenders who jump the smoke route immediately leave the dive lane clean, so trust the run read if you see the flat defender flash inside. Blitz packages that bring extra defenders off the edge can beat this concept quickly since it removes the flat defender assigned to the smoke read, so check protection and be ready to pull it down.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance to the flat defender before the snap to set your alert key for the RPO read.
If the defense shows a hard box with 8 or more defenders and the flat defender is deep, take the dive read every time.
If the corner or flat defender squats on the smoke route or shows soft outside leverage, pull and throw hot for a quick easy gain.
Pair this play with HB Inside Zone and HB Dive from the same set to keep linebackers honest on run fits before dialing up the RPO look.
Best used on 2nd and short or 3rd and short since both options in the concept are designed to convert manageable distance.
