RPO off of Power Read

Fundamentals and Performance,RPO,Power read

RPO off of Power Read

Keith Grabowski Wed, 06/29/2016 – 6:29pm

Over the past couple season’s many coaches have asked me if Power Read could become a run pass option with an attachment.

With the typical play, it cannot.

This would require the quarterback to read both a level one and level two player. Not only is this not practical, but it would be extremely difficult for the quarterback. He can’t put his eyes in two places at once.

However, with a simple adjustment, the power read can be paired with a complimentary look-alike-play that takes advantage of the flow of the placed linebacker.

In the past we have run this as a called pass off of the power read, but it certainly can be done as a read of the frontside backer. Instead of reading the end and pulling for the Mike, the quarterback will read the mike and the guard will pull and trap the end. The quarterback will be reading the flow of the backer with a receiver attempting to wrap into the void on a pop pass.

The sweeper is not as protected and would have to outrun the end being trapped. It’s not ideal because the end is being blocked in the direction of the sweep, however, the end that turns to wrong arm the guard won’t have his momentum running in the direction of the sweep.

This play is an effective compliment against the defender that is attempting to collision the guard and close the running lane for the quarterback on power while allowing the linebacker to run to defend the sweep. Essentially, the defense is creating a gap exchange that frees the linebacker to get to the sweep.

The pop pass can provide a simple answer to that scenario.

One of the points we emphasized in coaching this play was patience for the receiver in finding the hole in the defense.

As illustrated in the video of plays explained above, receivers did not run at top speed on the snap of the ball. Depending on the run action and which side it is going to, the void may actually move toward the receiver or tight end.

We don’t want a situation where our receiver is running himself into coverage. We want him in the hole in the defense. After the catch he can run as fast as he wants.

The quarterback also needs to be patient in riding the mesh, and the running backs has to be getting to top speed quickly.

On the power read of the LB, we tell the quarterback to slide at least two steps while he reads the linebackers to see where the passing lane will be. The video walk through below explains some key coaching points in this simple yet effective play.