RPO- Effective Run Pass Options out of 11 personnel at the NFL and College Level!
This series will look at some of the NFL and College RPO concepts and plays you will see run. Run Pass Options can be run off various run actions. This includes both zone schemes and gap schemes. Gap schemes include pin and pull counter, wrap and others.. I will add to it throughout the weeks to come.
Run Pass Options are very popular at all levels. They are used by various NFL teams at the college and high school level as well. You are seeing more and more rpo's and teams getting creative with them.
This article will look at Run pass options out of 11 personnel.
11 personnel
Texas
Texas loves to run RPO and will do it out of different formations.
They come out in 3x1 and put the TE to the boundary. They run sweep with an rpo. #3 runs the seam and #1 runs a drive concept off #2. The #3 WR is uncovered so the read takes the QB to that.
This 2nd level RPO reads the sam linebacker. He triggers on the run fake and the QB hits the seam route.
11P Formation to boundary.
Texas runs Zone Slice RPO with orbit Motion
Texas runs orbit motion with the formation to the boundary. They slice with the TE and are able to hit the WR on the wheel route down the sideline for a nice 10 yard gain.
The QB sees the LB coming and makes the appropriate read.
Western Kentucky
Escort (h motion) Counter RPO The H back comes in motion and the ball is snapped before the TE reaches the qb. They have #’s on the perimeter as the OLB turns to play #2. Easy read for the qb. Nice job on slipping the h back to the flat.
Defense Odd front 3-2 3 safety look.
11 P ISO Unbalanced RPO
Alabama comes out in unbalanced runs the rpo. Defense is in cover 3 and the run action freezes the LB and the #3 is wide open on the vertical.
#1 slant
#2 bubble(ineligible)
#3 vertical seem route
You can see the void start to RPO vertically for #3 on the seem route off the run action.
Wide open and Jones hits him on the in route as the bubble holds the outside LB. Nice design and the WR is wide open.
Film Below:
Inside Zone TE Pop RPO
Kentucky runs inside zone with the Y delaying then running the seam route. Excellent design as the SS takes the bait.
TE Starts to arc as the defense leaves him uncovered.
The TE who arced is wide open on the route.
Easy completion as the defense is rolling cover 3 the other way.
Bengals Inside Zone RPO
Fake inside zone
Iso RPO read the SS
Here they run it off of iso and have the out cut to the 1 wr side. Burrow reads off coverage and throws the easy completion. Center and left guard combo to the away side lb. H back is leading up to playside lb.
Notre Dame RPO to the Boundary
Notre Dame runs the out cut to the boundary vs Pitt who loves to play press quarters. Tough to defend because the LB has to play run, the CB plays #1 vertical m/m and the the safety is at 10 yards. Easy completion and read. They ran this because of the defensive system they would see from Pitt. Pitt played a ton of press quarters so this was a good play call.
Here is the clip of the play below.
NOTRE DAME runs it a 2nd time. This time they run the rpo vs press quarters to the boundary side.
Nice play and design.
Miami Offense
Vs NC State- You get alot of cover 1 combo with the LB combo the TE from NC State. Miami 2020 takes advantage vs NC State runs a nice rpo as the LB's get fooled on the heavy run action, easy read for the qb on the te seem route as lb and safety get sold on the run.
The TE runs a pop pass type seem route and is open off the run action.
You can see the tight end engage then release against a very aggressive run front. Easy read for the qb.
Te releasing vertically into the seem. Nice read and completion.
3x1 TE strong (ACE= 1 TE with 2 wr same side)
Here's a duo rpo from Burrow at LSU. He reads the outside lb and throws the out cut for an easy 10 yard gain. This was an easy read as the lb stayed home and played the run. Quarters coverage so an easy read to the front side. Sam plays the run so easy catch and throw.
The #1 wr runs the wr off and the #2 is open on the out. (Friday in the air raid system)
The OLB plays run
Film:
Coastal Carolina
Coastal Carolina runs an out cut off Duo. Wr combo is a 10 yard hook with an out cut(curl flat concept),QB reads cover 3 and throws the out cut
11 personnel TE in #1 wr slot
2x2. TE to the boundary by formation.
Chiefs run inside zone rpo with a simple out cut for 19 yards.
You can see the te has leverage on the flat defender so an easy read for Mahomes.
nice design vs a soft coverage for 19 yards.
Same Side RPO
Baylor Same Side RPO (Run action to the side of the pass)
The Glance RPO is predicated on the action of the safety. IF the safety fills hard or vacates like below throw the glance. If not, give the football.
Same side RPO
Nicedesign as the presnap indication allows this throw to be made.
Nice design and execution
Here's some footage of the Glance Route!
Here is some YouTube clips of all the plays discussed above! I hope you enjoyed this rpo article.
I hope you enjoyed this analysis of the RPO game and what plays are being run from 11P and how effective these plays can be.