Rule/Route Conversions for RPO Concepts

By Brent Eckley
Head Football Coach
Jackson High School (MO)
Twitter: @jacksonfbnation

Introduction:

At Jackson High School, we’ve sound some success in using RPOs to help us read different defensive players, as opposed to the more traditional concept of reading the backside defensive end on run plays.  We also make use of these types of plays, but we’ve found some ‘easier’ yards with changing up who we are reading play to play.

The two RPOs that will be covered in this clinic report are our most successful over the past two seasons.  The first is an RPO off of our outside zone or stretch play with the QB reading the backside inside linebacker. The quarterback has the option of giving the ball the running back or passing the ball to one of our backside receivers. The second RPO is based off of our quarterback outside zone or stretch play. The quarterback is now reading the front side force player. He will either run the ball or throw to one of our front side receivers. For the sake of this report, we will show the run plays and the corresponding RPOs out of 3x1 sets out of 10 personnel.

RB Stretch RPO

This concept is based in our outside zone concept. Our offensive line will take a minimum of two foot width alignment and we try to align deep, at the center’s hip.

Our rules for blocking the stretch play is based on covered or uncovered rules much like many teams that run outside zone. Covered linemen are taught to drop step and reach. We coach to run the feet and try not to close our hips too soon on the reach. If we close too soon, the uncovered lineman won’t be able to push us off to get to the linebacker. We teach our uncovered linemen to three step climb. His eyes are on the nearest defensive lineman to the play side. The uncovered lineman will drop step, crossover and run, trying to overtake the reach block of the covered lineman. If he can’t get there in 3 steps, he will then climb for the linebacker. If he can get there, he will push off the covered lineman to the linebacker and overtake the reach block, trying to close his hips as soon as possible to maintain the reach block.

To make this play an RPO, we have matched up our most versatile quick pass concept with our stretch play. The following slides will list coaching points for this pass concept for our receivers and quarterback.