By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikekKuchar

Introduction

It’s important to note that much of the design component of these pre-snap RPO tags lies in understanding offensive formation structure and defensive coverage structure. We all know that the beauty of the RPO system is taking all the top route concepts in your offense and marrying them with the most productive run concepts you have. While it may be difficult not to get carried away with all the possibilities, we’ve found that at the crux of this design is getting the quarterback to understand what a pre-snap read is and what a post-snap read is. So, we’ve gone ahead and defined it for you:

Pre-Snap Read: These are decisions made by the quarterback pre-snap to either run or pass the ball depending on the pre-snap leverage of a particular defender.

Post-Snap Read: These are decisions made by the quarterback post-snap to either run or pass the ball depending on the pre-snap movement of a particular defender.

While we’ve found that many offensive coordinators will use both of these models to get into the most advantageous situation, this particular study is devoted to how coaches are teaching their quarterbacks to make the right adjustments pre-snap to take advantage of either numbers, leverage or grass of the defense.

Numbers

The concept of numbers is specifically tied to a numerical advantage by the offense at the point of attack. It’s a universal concept; defenses will try to do the same thing by the time the ball is snapped to get a plus one defender around the ball. While this is not a novel idea, we felt that it’s important to educate coaches on how our sources were treating box count on the interior and numbers count on the perimeter to effectively get in the best play scenario.

Important: Keep in mind the pre-snap RPO system is commonly used to supplant a non-mobile quarterback, who is not included as a potential runner. For example, a 10 personnel offensive structure will only have five blockers. So six in the box will trigger a throw.

Box Count:

Quarterbacks, even at the lower levels, are now asked to count the box. Most coaches refer to the box as the areas two feet outside the offensive tackle. Quite simply, if a defense has even numbers or less numbers, run the ball.

If a defense has more numbers, throw the ball.

Since the majority of pre-snap RPO concepts are used to manipulate two-high safety structures that will try to find a way to sneak an extra player into a fit, in most cases odd fronts and even front will have a possibility of seven defenders in the box.

Now, where it gets tricky, is when defenses start to “mess” with those overhang defenders, particularly on odd structures to either be run or pass players. Conflict defenders are those tweeners, who may be in a position to play run or pass. But how effective they can be in playing run or pass is in direct relation to how far they are from the tackle box.

And that is where creative coaching comes in. At this point, offensive coordinators have three options:

1. Change the formation to make it clear whether or not that defender is a run first or pass first player. Structures such as three-man surfaces suffice for this solution (Diagram 4).
2. Continue to monitor the reaction of that player when run develops to determine if he’s accounted for a gap.
3. Tag a post-snap RPO concept to affect that player when all else fails.

Scott Chisholm, the offensive coordinator at Berryhill High School (OK) will teach his quarterback to run the ball to a 5 man or less box, so he teaches his signal caller to ask them to declare whether or not that apex player is inside the wide receiver (usually the slot) or is he outside? “If he’s inside that wide receiver, we will usually throw the bubble, because we’ll outrun that outside linebacker and gain five yards before that safety comes up (Diagram 5),” coach Chisholm told us. “This also puts that OLB in a bind, he’s starts thinking, ‘are they reading me? Are they counting numbers?’ For us it’s just easier to teach a 17 year-old kid this concept, rather than reading him.

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikekKuchar

Introduction

When a run is not necessarily the best play call for a certain situation, the pre-snap RPO pass tag provides options. Scenarios such as the leverage of a force defender and the depth of corners and safeties all attribute to the quarterback making a decision at the line of scrimmage. According to our research, we’ve found the majority of coaches, 42 percent, use between 4-6 pass tags in their run game (See Graph Below). In this case, we study the most productive RPO concepts used by our sources based on all those situations that unravel pre-snap. We segmented our research into detailing which concepts coaches are using to exploit a perimeter numbers advantage as well as an interior numbers advantage.

Exploiting Perimeter Numbers

Backside Gifts

Backside “gift” concepts are most associated with the single, or X receiver in trips formations. Much has been written on this already, but we would be remiss if we didn’t include this in our research because so many offensive coordinators have gained a great deal of traction using them. 

At Tufts University, slot receiver coach Pat Murphy used the same “open side matrix” he used while a head coach at St. Anselm College. It’s the only decision he had the quarterback make pre-snap based on the alignment of the corner on the backside X in trips. An example of the menu is below.

Versus Press Coverage:

• Fade
• Slant
• Hitch

Versus Off Coverage:

• Pivot
• Speed Out
• Skinny

To study game film of some of these access throws, click on the video below:

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikekKuchar

Introduction

Training the quarterback pre-snap eyes seems to be the crux of using this system and since 51 percent of coaches will have their quarterbacks make the decision, rather than themselves from the sideline, (See Graph Below) it’s imperative to study how he is making the right read. We wanted to target our research specifically to sources who have a continual transition at the quarterback level, particularly those at the high school and small college ranks where time can be a factor in educating these players about the nuances of this system.

At the high school level, factors such as academics and extra-curriculars can put a stretch on the time these players need to understand this type of system. Per our research, leverage can be determined by the following factors:

1. Numbers Advantage in the Box
2. Numbers Advantage on the Perimeter
3. Leverage Advantage in the Box
4. Leverage Advantage on the Perimeter

Once the quarterback identifies his advantage, he must be taught the means in which to attack them. In this study, we are going to examine how each of the following factors tie into the quarterback’s decision to make the best play call at the line of scrimmage, and not after the ball is snapped. After all, the premise of this system is to be in the “best play scenario” every snap. This can only be done through repletion and a constant education of your quarterback. But whatever decision he makes, it’s essential to live with it. As many of the coaches that worked with us told us if you’re going to commit to this type of system, you must live by your quarterback’s decision. In the words of the great Bill Parcells, you can’t allow him to cook the meal if he’s not allowed to buy the groceries.

H.A.L.O. Methodology

Jason Eckert at New Richmond High School (WI) subscribes to the R4 methodology devised by the National Football Academies when training the quarterback’s pre-snap eyes. It’s commonly referred to as the acronym H.A.L.O., which is described below.

Hard Deck: Identifies deep space from underneath space, which is 7-8 yards of space above line of scrimmage. The quarterback is asked to find him and then draw a line out from him. There are five passing tubes. Tubes on the numbers, tubes on the hash and a middle tube. They are separated by underneath coverage (Diagram 61).

Apex: Apex is the spot halfway between the EMOL and the closest receiver. This will separate run space from passing space (Diagram 62).

Center Line: Middle of the field concept

Outside Space: This is the passing space under the hard deck. Each receiver has their own outside space (Diagram 63).

“I don’t talk in terms of coverage very often,” Coach Eckert told us. “One reason is I sometimes have a difficult time figuring out what coverage some of our opponents are supposed to be in.  Part of that is some teams are just bad and sometimes high school kids don’t do what their supposed to do. If I’m confused, our quarterback will be more confused. We talk more in terms of space. He needs to know how many defenders are taking away or capping space above our hard deck. This will tell him routes that are being taken away pre-snap or deep space we will be able to attack.  He needs to understand what space the defense is giving up underneath the hard deck. Our quarterback will look concept side first and then work backside. If I want his progression to change, I’ll add a tag for that. So, I control his progression. This limits confusion.”

In Coach Eckert’s system, each route is designed to attack the open space as it pertains to these categories. The quarterback and wide receivers will only choose the specific screen they want tied to the run game. “They are taught what works best, but they make the call on the field,” said Coach Eckert. “Our keys screens were decided by our players, unless I wanted a particular screen. So, I would just call a run play with ‘key’ added to it. They decided, based on how the defense aligned, whether the screen would be to the inside or outside receiver. Other than that, we don’t change routes at the line of scrimmage.”