The game of football has changed, long gone are the days of the triple option, now, it’s the RPO
The triple option was once one of the most used plays in football. The triple option as
you know it is essentially dead but the spirit is alive and well. The RPO (Run-Pass option) is the modern day triple option as the game has become more spaced out and the usage of 11 (1 running back 1 tight end) personnel is at an all time high. Note: linebacker is used to say either the outside LB or nickel or conflict defender as these terms are used in different defenses but are the same defender we are reading for the pitch and throw key for the option.
The triple option’s first step is the dive. The dive is the quarterback’s first read as the
edge defender must decide to crash or contain it. If the edge contains it then the quarterback
hands the ball off. The first step of an RPO is the “dive”, different from the triple option as all
down linemen generally are blocked so the read key is usually a linebacker. If the linebacker
does not immediately come down to stop the run the QB will hand the ball off. Defenses try to
stop these parts first so you may have to pull the ball and go to the second part.
The second part is the pitch. When the QB pulls the ball his next read is the linebacker
the linebacker can either take him or the pitch man. If the linebacker takes the QB then he
pitches to the running back. RPO’s are a little more complicated as different route combinations
and rules are in place for the play. Some RPO’s do not have a second read making it more like
a read option than a triple option. We will start with the one read RPO.
These plays are much simpler for the quarterback to read as it is a pre-play alignment
read. The read is where the linebacker on the right is lined up. He is the conflict defender, as
you are putting him in conflict, and if he is lined up closer to the QB than the slot the Q will throw
the bubble as there is a numbers advantage out there as the receiver on the outside blocks the
corner so there is a hat on a hat. If the conflict defender is over the slot then the QB will hand it
off as that leaves six on six in the box. This is great to run against teams who are unwilling to
out of a true 4-3 look. Josh Huepel at Tennessee does a lot of these types of RPO’s paired with
spreading his receivers out wide exaggerating the spacing dilemma.
READ MORE: Go Blue, Go Blue, Go Blue! What Did Michigan Have to do to Prove Themselves?
Now we will get into some basic multiple route concepts that go along with RPO’s: hitches, slant-flat, and stick. The read key for the run will be the mike backer. While this isn’t all of them, these are the basic RPOs many high school teams use and colleges will install these as their initial install.
(2×2)
The slant-flat or bubble is a compliment to the play above as the conflict defender
may try to bait the throw out there and the slant runs into the void left by the defender. Defenses
may try to sky down to take the bubble away instead but the principle remains the same. There
is a little bit more processing needed from the QB he needs to see if linebackers are flowing to the run and then find the best throw out there. This works great against teams that either buzz
or sky into cover three to that side. If it’s sky, I would recommend turning the slant into a glance (5 step) to better help the spacing.
(2×2 or 3×1)
Hitches are fairly simple as everyone running it has the same route the QB just has to find the open man. After he makes his decision to throw the ball he looks at the leverage of the defender he is reading and throws it to the guy with more space. In a three receiver look the most inside receiver will run a stick (hitch turning out) with two hitches by the two outside receivers. You read it inside out but must be quick because a throw late to the outside hitch is a recipe for disaster. This works great against teams who run Cover 4 or have a soft 4 shell as it forces the linebackers to cover more ground as there are only three underneath defenders.
(3×1)
Stick is a stick (outside turning hitch) out and a go route going from inside-out. This works great against cover three especially if it is rolling away as the linebacker is stuck between the out and the stick. If the linebacker covers the out you throw it to the the stick. The throw must be on the outside shoulder to keep it away from the mike and maximize YAC. If the linebacker does not get enough width, you hit the out route.
