Playbooks
HB Cntr Wk Alert Z Smoke
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Cntr Wk Alert Z Smoke is an RPO out of Strong I 21 personnel that pairs HB Counter Weak with a bubble/WR smoke alert to the Z receiver. The diagram shows the offensive line pulling weakside for the counter action while the Z receiver runs a quick bubble screen route from the slot with the outside X sitting as a blocker on the perimeter corner. Your primary read is pre-snap: check the alignment of the flat defender or overhang, throw the smoke immediately if that defender crashes down or shows blitz, otherwise hand off the counter and let the pulling linemen work.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat or overhang defender over the Z receiver at the snap, aggressive downhill defenders get beat instantly by the smoke throw. Identify if the defense is in a run heavy front with the corner playing off, that leans the QB toward handing off the counter instead of throwing. Track the backside defensive end and linebacker flow, if they crash hard down the line the counter's pulling guard and blocking back have room to seal the edge. Look for man coverage on the outside X, since he is occupied as a blocker the smoke concept only has one true receiving option so a jumped route kills the RPO. Beware of a nickel or slot defender sitting in a shallow zone drop, that shell takes away the bubble read and forces a tougher decision on the counter handoff.
Usage Tips
Check the defender aligned over the Z receiver before the snap, if he is sitting inside or crashing toward the box the bubble smoke is wide open.
Use this as a built in answer to overaggressive defensive coordinators who key run action on early downs, since the RPO tag punishes linebackers stepping up.
Hard count and watch for the flat corner or nickel to bite, then snap it into the alert throw for a free five to seven yard gain.
Pair this with HB Blast Alert X Smoke and Power O Alert X Smoke in the same series so defenses cannot key on one side of the field for the alert route.
Save this for second and short or third and short situations where defenses commit extra numbers to the box, since the counter blocking scheme needs a light front to hit for explosive yardage.
