Our oldest non-fast screen RPO, and still my favorite, is the first one we started running back in 2010. I don't know who the originator of the concept is, but we first learned it from Dana Holgorsen. It's a great drive starter, 3rd & medium, and 2nd and 10 call. It combines three ideas from elsewhere in our offense (Stick, Draw, and an individual or combo man beater) and so is easy to install. Despite its age, it is still a pretty unique play for us because no one really runs it in our area anymore. I think that Draw is a dramatically under-utilized play in modern offensive football. Vs a 6 man box the QB reads the playside inside linebacker. If he matches the Stick the QB hands off the Draw. If he doesn't match the Stick immediately the ball should be out to the Stick in Rhythm. Vs a true cover down to the Stick combo side the QB will work the built-in man beater, which we can tag or have the QB call at the line. The concept translates to empty with ease and with two men now backside, man-beater combinations can be expanded. Even if the QB is not a great run threat it keeps defenses honest when they start going with a light box. From empty we allow the QB to declare his read key to the OL so he can replace either ILB with the Draw. In other words if the defense was in a 4-2 box with no cover down on the boundary quick out and the ILB was matching aggressively, the QB could work the quick out side and still run the QB draw regardless of whether or not it was man. In part 2 we'll explore some ideas for troubleshooting the concept, in particular adaptations vs odd defenses.
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Here is an excerpt from the first chapter of my iBook "Quick Rhythm Option Routes" which gives the base rules for our most common option route: Sloppy. The book can be purchased here. How do you read Curl-Flat? It’s a pattern that’s been around forever. I have experience coaching in systems which used every one of the examples I’m about to review and I think every one of them can be rationally defended as a "proper" way to read the pattern. But this post is not really about Curl-Flat. In looking at this simple pattern I want to make a larger point, which is that "optimal" ways of reading patterns are situational and subjective. Let’s look at some reading methods first. Option 1 is to read it inside out. This is how the old West Coast Offense “Hank” concept was/is read. The QB progresses from the over-the-ball sit route outside to the curl-flat combo. By reading the sit route 1st, the playside inside LB, who is a danger player for the curl, is held inside. The sit gives the QB an option vs fire zone pressure as well. If the sit is squeezed there should be a throwing lane to the curl. If the curl is not there the ball is thrown to the flat. Option 2 is reading the flat first. The idea is to take the easy flat throw over and over until the hang player is forced to defend it. When he sprints out to cover the flat, the Curl opens up and if the QB gets a color flash from inside he checks it down to the sit. Coaches argue that this method gets the curl open by forcing a quicker reaction from the flat player. Option 3 is also another old West Coast tactic used on the traditional 22 Z-In as well as various other in-breaking patterns. The QB is going to throw to the curl on rhythm off his first hitch step. If covered by the curl defender he throws the flat. The sit is again an outlet. Here is a link to a Bill Walsh article in which he describes 22 Z- In as well as X Hook, both of which use this method. Finally, Option 4 is what many refer to as an object read. The QB again starts with the curl, but sees the entire pattern structure. The key is “who covered the curl?” If the curl is not open, it has to have been invaded from inside or outside. If invaded from inside the ball goes to the sit. If from outside the ball goes to the flat. The QB is essentially taking a picture of 3 routes in one eye fix even if he can’t actually see all 3 routes. By concentrating on the apex of the triangle made by the three routes he knows where to go with the ball. Now, I’m using Curl-Flat as an example, but the 4 options I just reviewed can be applied to multiple pattern structures. Some coaches will stand on the table for one read type or another. But….wouldn’t it be optimal to have a system where you are able to do all four?
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