By definition, run-pass options are just extensions of simple option football, changing who the quarterback reads on any given play and making a decision based on that. It is not, as Jon Gruden has claimed, a ridiculous protection offense.

I love RPOs, and I think they are a great way for offenses to take advantage of what defenses are doing. I’ve seen a lot of “must buy” books out there selling these RPO systems, but the reality is you likely already have them in your offense. You may just not know it yet.

Here are some of the options we use to keep defenses guessing.  I’ll break them down into two categories: presnap and postsnap.

Think of them as more of a framework than a prescription, then do what works best for you.

Presnap

Bubble screens are the obvious choice here. RPOs pretty much started with teams reading the outside linebacker and throwing the bubble based on that.

The best bit about this concept is that is incredibly simple to teach and understand, and it works consistently.

And I love stuff that works consistently.

Let’s take it one step further and look at both sides of the field. A stwist to the “just run a bubble” strategy is to have simple alerts based on alignments.

Some of the ones we use are:

Single receiver Opie route

The Opie route is quite simple. It is an option route for receivers based on a defensive back’s alignment. Less than five yards, it’s a slant. More than five yards, it’s a hitch.

SEE ALSO: Simple inside zone variations

SEE ALSO: Coaching the inside zone

It’s that simple. On every run play we have, a wide receiver is running an Opie route. At times, we even simplify the route read to where only thing that matters is the receiver having inside leverage on the defender, meaning the quarterback just puts the ball in a spot rather than reading the coverage as the play goes.

I really don’t care if the receiver runs a one-step slant and deepens the slant or if he can get a full three-step slant in. The only thing that matters is that the wide receiver is inside the defensive back.

Two receiver backside/frontside screen

On any run play where we have two receivers to a side, they will run either a bubble or a fast screen, depending if they are on the front side or back side.

On the front side, we have a fast, outside receiver screen. We’ve found this to work better than a bubble there because the outside receiver is in a position to run block.

On the back side, it’s the classic bubble simply because it works, and – again – I love stuff that works consistently.

Our quarterback’s job presnap is to look at the space advantage. What side gives us the best space advantage?

On the backside, it’s identifying the No. 2 defender. If he’s inside the slot, we’ve got a good advantage there.

On the front side, we identify the flat defender if possible. If the corner is off, we are really putting that outside backer in a bind. Does he play force, or does he play the flat?

We simply take what gives us the best advantage to get our guys in space, whether it’s the slot receiver, the outside receiver, the running back or the QB keeping it.

Three receiver bubble screen

You know what’s coming: I love stuff that works consistently. The three receiver bubble screen is one of the best at that. It doesn’t matter what the defense does. It’s tough to stop.

With the two outside receivers blocking, the inside receiver runs the bubble. It’s really simple to learn and even easier to run. Any run play where we have three receivers on one side of the field, they’ll run it.

If the QB likes the matchup presnap, the choice is his. If he doesn’t like it, well, we still have our run game to fall back on.

It doesn’t matter if you are shotgun spread or wing-T, these rules for receivers allow you to incorporate RPOs into your offense.

Postsnap

The next step up is taking existing pass plays and incorporating them into an RPO set. This is where you need to think about the type of running game you have.

RPOs are based on how long it takes linemen to eat up those three yards they are given. On inside zone, that’s probably not very long. Though there are some techniques for slowing your guys down slightly, the reality is having a 12-yard corner route from an inside zone play is probably not going to happen.

Instead, incorporate routes that fit in with the timing of the play. Here are some I have that have worked well.

Stick

The next evolution of the stick-draw is the zone-stick. Run inside zone to one side and on the backside have the receivers running stick. I prefer this out of trips just because of the matchups we get. 

The crucial aspect is identifying who the quarterback reads. We tell the QB to read the backside No. 3 on these routes, which is more than likely going to be the outside linebacker.

As part of this scheme, we also make a “backer” call on the line, which tells the offensive lineman to block the backside No. 2 and tells the quarterback to read the backer.

If you use a numbering system to identify your blocks up front, it’s a simple change. Even if you don’t, the concept is pretty simple for linemen to pick up. It also keeps Coach Gruden happy as we are not leaving the QB to get destroyed by a defensive end crashing down the line.

Slant/out

This classic has hung around so long because – you guessed it – it works.

Using the same principles of the zone stick concept above, we block the front, identify who the read is and read him. It’s an adaptable zone read because it doesn’t matter if the QB is athletic or a traditional dropback passer, anyone can run this stuff.

It also has the added benefit of easy routes to run. And chances are, you’re already running some them or even running this concept.

Slice

This is a slightly newer concept that’s taken from the snag concept, just worked to fit our run game.

We teach both receivers on the backside to run snags – double snag equals slice. Their job is to replace the receivers next to them at a depth of six yards. So the outside receiver aims for six yards above the inside receiver and heads straight for that spot. The inside receiver does the same but heads for the running back’s spot at six yards depth.

This works great because of a few reasons. To the linebacker, it looks as if that receiver is coming in to block him, so we expect him to run fill here. By not running with any vertical stem, we force the corner into a predicament. Does he carry inside with the wide receiver, or does he play his role?

The answer to the second question inevitably sets up a play-action shot on the two-man snag concept with a 12-yard corner route over the top.

On all of the postsnap reads, we block the front and read linebackers.

Use these RPOs to incorporate your quick game passing concepts into your run concepts to really put the defense in a bind.

Then ignite your offensive production.

Neale McMaster is offensive coordinator for the Ouse Valley Eagles and Assistant offensive line coach for the Great Britain Lions National Programme. Prior to this, Neale was offensive line coach with the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders following a nine-year playing career with the East Kilbride Pirates and University of Glasgow. McMaster holds a PG masters in civil engineering and management from Heriot-Watt University and currently works as a technical bids manager in the United Kingdom.