I know this sort of talk is not for everyone, but I know several of you (@Jesse_Simonton @RockyTopRowdy58) on the board enjoy it. I have been doing some research in my downtime on the USC offense from 2016-2017 to see what schemes may be used to get the Volunteers into The Checkerboards this fall. The overarching schematic term on the tips of tongues of every coach, fan, and announcer is "RPO." I personally believe RPOs are applicable and (generally) effective at all levels and in most every offensive structure. The purpose of an RPO is no different than traditional "option football." RPOs give the QB the ability to distribute the football to multiple athletes based on the actions of a defender being placed in a conflict.While RPOs, are often confused with play-action passes, overlap between the two concepts does exist. This overlap occurs when the defender is highly likely to to act on his run responsibility, thus triggering the QB to throw the Pass Option of the concept.
I will keep some of my personal opinions to myself for the time being and simply share some of the findings to this point. This information and diagrams are actually from a 2017 Clinic Talk by USC Head Coach Clay Helton, but I am certain these concepts will be carried by Coach Tyson Helton from the beaches of the west coast to The Hill.
This first diagram is an RPO (Run Pass Option) in which the QB has the Option to hand off the ball on an Inside Zone Scheme or throw one of four slant routes. According to this diagram, the QB is reading the 1st PS (Playside) LB in the Box (From Offensive Tackle to Offensive Tackle or TE if applicable). If the LB is aggressive in his run fit of the Inside Zone Scheme, the QB will pull the ball from the RB's belly and throw the slant in the void left by this LB. If the LB is hesitates to play the run, the run play is that much more likely to be successful. This particular RPO will likely be thrown because there is little to keep the LB from honoring his run fit. This is a bit of a faulty diagram, as in this alignment, the defense is likely playing man coverage and SS would be playing with inside leverage and not align to the outside of the slot WR.
This second RPO is very much in the same vein as the first. However, based on the alignment of the back this likely an Outside Zone (or 'Stretch') scheme. This time the QB is reading the first Backside LB and this LB is detached (outside of) the box and the defense is playing a middle of the field open / 2 High safety look. Again, the LB is likely to play the run in this situation. The defense is in a situation where there are more gaps than defenders if the LB being read does not play the run. This is not a likely true man alignment. Depending on the pre-snap action of the FS, this is another RPO in which the QB is likely to act on the Pass Option.
This final RPO is my personal favorite of the three provided. This RPO is a Third-Level RPO - in that the conflict defender is at the third level of the defense - a safety. This is a Pro-Twins set - the left side of the formation is a "Pro" Surface - Attached TE and Flanker. The right side of the set is a "Twins Surface" - two detached WRs.(away from the box).The run scheme is called a One Back Power Scheme - in that the BS OG will pull for the PS LB (an Inside/Outside Zone Scheme could likely be tagged here as well however). The QB eyes the Right/Twins side of the formation Pre-Snap. A Man Beater concept is called for these 2 WRs (here a pick route and a wheel route) If there are 3 defenders over these 2 WRs (indicating zone coverage)- these two WRs are "dead" (no longer an option or in the progression for the QB.) In this diagram, the defenders are in man alignment and thus the QB would stay to the Right/Twins side. If there were 3 defenders over these 2 WRs the QB would progress to the single WR on the left (the TE is in the run blocking scheme). The single WR will run a Pole route. This route initially appears as though the WR is crack blocking the MDM - most dangerous defender before eventually sprinting toward the near upright (ie. Pole Route). The QB would then read the fit of the - FS - if the FS is a quick trigger run defender, the Pole route will be downfield behind him and the QB will throw the ball. If the FS plays deep, the Pole route effectively keeps the FS from fitting the run.
**As an aside, Coach Osovet is also known for his RPO schemes that manipulate third-level defenders as we see in this final diagram. I would imagine these RPOs will be a large part of what the Vols incorporate into the offense this fall.**
I will keep some of my personal opinions to myself for the time being and simply share some of the findings to this point. This information and diagrams are actually from a 2017 Clinic Talk by USC Head Coach Clay Helton, but I am certain these concepts will be carried by Coach Tyson Helton from the beaches of the west coast to The Hill.
This first diagram is an RPO (Run Pass Option) in which the QB has the Option to hand off the ball on an Inside Zone Scheme or throw one of four slant routes. According to this diagram, the QB is reading the 1st PS (Playside) LB in the Box (From Offensive Tackle to Offensive Tackle or TE if applicable). If the LB is aggressive in his run fit of the Inside Zone Scheme, the QB will pull the ball from the RB's belly and throw the slant in the void left by this LB. If the LB is hesitates to play the run, the run play is that much more likely to be successful. This particular RPO will likely be thrown because there is little to keep the LB from honoring his run fit. This is a bit of a faulty diagram, as in this alignment, the defense is likely playing man coverage and SS would be playing with inside leverage and not align to the outside of the slot WR.
This second RPO is very much in the same vein as the first. However, based on the alignment of the back this likely an Outside Zone (or 'Stretch') scheme. This time the QB is reading the first Backside LB and this LB is detached (outside of) the box and the defense is playing a middle of the field open / 2 High safety look. Again, the LB is likely to play the run in this situation. The defense is in a situation where there are more gaps than defenders if the LB being read does not play the run. This is not a likely true man alignment. Depending on the pre-snap action of the FS, this is another RPO in which the QB is likely to act on the Pass Option.
This final RPO is my personal favorite of the three provided. This RPO is a Third-Level RPO - in that the conflict defender is at the third level of the defense - a safety. This is a Pro-Twins set - the left side of the formation is a "Pro" Surface - Attached TE and Flanker. The right side of the set is a "Twins Surface" - two detached WRs.(away from the box).The run scheme is called a One Back Power Scheme - in that the BS OG will pull for the PS LB (an Inside/Outside Zone Scheme could likely be tagged here as well however). The QB eyes the Right/Twins side of the formation Pre-Snap. A Man Beater concept is called for these 2 WRs (here a pick route and a wheel route) If there are 3 defenders over these 2 WRs (indicating zone coverage)- these two WRs are "dead" (no longer an option or in the progression for the QB.) In this diagram, the defenders are in man alignment and thus the QB would stay to the Right/Twins side. If there were 3 defenders over these 2 WRs the QB would progress to the single WR on the left (the TE is in the run blocking scheme). The single WR will run a Pole route. This route initially appears as though the WR is crack blocking the MDM - most dangerous defender before eventually sprinting toward the near upright (ie. Pole Route). The QB would then read the fit of the - FS - if the FS is a quick trigger run defender, the Pole route will be downfield behind him and the QB will throw the ball. If the FS plays deep, the Pole route effectively keeps the FS from fitting the run.
**As an aside, Coach Osovet is also known for his RPO schemes that manipulate third-level defenders as we see in this final diagram. I would imagine these RPOs will be a large part of what the Vols incorporate into the offense this fall.**
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