Today we take a look at the Run Pass Option Offense and how it works within the Pro Style Spread Offense.
A Run Pass Option Offense is essentially a triple-option offense that features a forward pass as the second or even third option of a run play.
Many teams are adding RPO’s to their offensive game plans and seeing great results.
Coastal Carolina has demonstrated a very high level of execution in their triple-option and RPO offense – so we decided they would be the perfect team to study their RPO plays.
You can check out the whole breakdown and free videos here.
Here are some of the different types of RPO’s from Coastal Carolina that can be added easily to any run game and give your offense an extra threat to defenses.
Backside Slants
The backside slant RPO is a great choice to pair with any one or two-back inside run threat like Zone, Dart, Iso, or Power.
All your Quarterback has to read is the outside linebacker’s alignment or movement after the snap.
If he vacates the area where the slant is running, it’s an easy completion that puts a player one missed tackle away from scoring.
Pairing it up with another slant on the outside gives you an added option if the Z doesn’t clear open or the defense rolls into a one high safety that clogs up the middle of the field.
Frontside Speed Out
The Speed Out has always been one of my favorite receiver routes in football.
I had an athlete back in my College coaching glory days break a single game catching record running this route multiple times against a variety of defensive looks.
It also works very well against any type of defense.
Again, the only thing that can take it away is a linebacker dropping under the route.
Pairing it up with an inside run threat will make sure that defenses have to choose whether to stop the run with that linebacker or not.
Usually, this route does not have a big opportunity to break for more than a couple of yards and is very much based on timing.
Quarterbacks need to be aware that it has to come out on time and receivers should make sure to get back downhill on the route instead of letting it drift deep giving the cornerback chances to pick it off.
Frontside Curl/Flat Read
The Curl/Flat route combination is a simple one that works very well against zone defenses.
Essentially the X receiver shown above will run a post-curl route and look to sit down in an open zone just inside the linebacker that is flowing outside with the Z.
The Z will run a short 5-yard speed cut out and look for the ball coming right out of his break.
The Quarterback will first look to determine the depth of the Corner.
If the Corner is high (5 or more yards off) then he knows the Out route will be open if the Pass in the RPO is triggered.
The Quarterback’s eyes will first read the Alley defender for a give or keep.
When he triggers on the run, he will then look to get the ball to the Z right now.
If the QB pulls and does not like the Z, he can continue to the X on the curl route as his second passing option.
Sometimes a Corner will disguise a hard Cover 2 which would take the Out route away.
Conclusion
These are three of the simple RPO’s that Coastal Carolina used this season as a part of their run pass option offense.
In our complete course study, I identified a total of 10 RPO variations that they used.
Coastal Caroline uses a number of first-level RPOs attacking linebackers and second-level RPO’s attacking Safeties.
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