Defending RPO'S

Wrinkles in Your Defensive Package to help defend RPO'S

[@josephmiller38]

At 4:56 perfect play if you pinch the line. This takes the Center out of run blocking, freeing up the M linebacker, and forces the run of the RPO to bounce outside towards the force players. If the QB throws, it will be in the vicinity of the hook/force defenders. It also works for defending the inside and outside zone read game.

[@OBCDrules]

We need more of these vids!

[@CoachMac]

I'll do as many as I can, glad it helps.

[@Xadanar]

Another great video Coach. It is always nice to view other perspectives. I just had a few questions. What would you think would be a reasonable way to counter your defenses? Is it reasonable to add a Key Read option game to the game where the QB first read is the Wil backer he gets a pull read and now his second option is to throw third to run if he sees man. And you have your defense set to lock on what you assume is the RPO side. Would it be reasonable to add a sweep type RPO as a great way to counter a team that does 2 read lock like you are showing

[@CoachMac]

We run a bunch of different option plays to take advantage of a defense. QB has to be a smart player.

[@CoachMac]

Effective option can counter a lot of teams. Taking throws and runs that the defense gives and proper execution is the easiest.

[@IRON5]

Coach if I'm looking and understanding correctly with six in the box could. You also get away with just playing man on the slots corners playing 2read concept free safety robber coverage middle of the field? When offensive set is align in a 2x2.

[@kendalwilkinson4298]

Georgia vs Georgia Tech 2017

[@CoachMac]

Corners would not need to play 2 Read if Slots are man. You don't want the corner cutting a flat route by 2 if he is being played man.

[@larryhowell9350]

What RPO's do you see from 2×2,2×1,3x1? 4×1?

[@harlemkiid149]

I would defend RPO with a 4-4/4.2.5 Hybrid defense. Run Stuffers/Pass Rusher in your front 4. 2 Inside LB's along with 2 safeties. 2 CB. I would disguise 2 man,Cover 1 Robber along with Cover 4 and or Cover 2 sink all which can be ran from that 4-4/4.25 alignment depending on the offensive formation. Manipulating the RPO read would be the objective. If the RPO is inside zone with outside hitch from a trips set. Why not play cover 1 robber and run scrape exchange with the de crashing and safety looping around. That would cover the rpo,true cover corners and hybrid safeties would be the key ingredients defensively.

[@travisoshea]

Do you coach? or have any videos? Would love to hear and see your philosophies.

[@CoachMac]

All good ideas

[@09hawksbtw]

I like a lot of your videos. I believe that RPO's are great against man. Just design the RPO with routes that beat man coverage. Example would be a seam route by #2 and a slant by #1. Your QB reads the OLB and if he commits to the box and the pass window opens then you throw it. What do you think?

[@CoachMac]

In essence you are beating coverage with routes not taking advantage of run action. RPO was meant to take advantage of run fits and pass drops.

[@CoachEdge1]

Correct! I think of RPO's just like the Read option. Except, I'm either giving or throwing.

[@gabrialblast2007]

Question coach. Because I play alot of OLB and D-End. Sometimes tackles pull leaving me a shot directly at the QB and/or Tail-back. But when they mesh, they are always reading me. How do you defend that? I'd hate to go straight at the QB because he'll give, but if I go to the back then he'll keep.

[@CoachMac]

Every call on defense should have someone assigned to the QB. If it’s you then you have to play the QB, if it’s not you then you can tackle the dive player

[@terrancewhite7857]

Coach MacPherson, are you still able to set your front and coverage vs RPO schemes whenever an offense lines up in the Pistol and the RB shifts from behind the QB (either right or left) moments before the snap? Are your players able to effectively communicate and successfully make the correct adjustments given a shortened opportunity before the snap?

[@CoachMac]

Much tougher to do in that scenario

[@terrancewhite7857]

Would you explain the advantage of offseting the RB instead of using the Pistol? As a defensive coach, it always makes diagnosing and predicting plays when RB is offset easier.

[@CoachMac]

Gives you some more QB run opportunities

[@larryhowell9350]

Could you not run an auto stunt? Rock the Dts? Left/ right?

[@larryhowell9350]

How do you play a RPO pistol team?

[@will27ns]

Is it a good idea in general to blitz vs an RPO team? Is the zone blitz or a man-free blitz inherently better vs RPOs?

[@CoachMac]

Man free for sure

[@CoachMac]

Man pressures are technically better vs RPO teams as it removes some of the run/pass conflict.

[@larryhowell9350]

What are your rules for setting the front versus 10p? I usually prefer setting the 3tech to field versus 2×2 10p RPO teams..force them into a phone booth...play palms to boundary

[@CoachMac]

Larry Howell I don’t get real crazy with the front, set it and play. Would love the 3 to the side of the back to help vs Zone and RPO’S

[@larryhowell9350]

Thomas MacPherson So you will set the 3tech strictly based on back ?

[@CoachMac]

Larry Howell back first, field second

[@larryhowell9350]

They can crossread...i know its more involved...depends

[@CoachMac]

We dont get many cross read RPO teams in High School

[@michaeltedeschi8329]

Actually vs pistol i would aling in double 2i's and crash the ends on the back...gap exchanging leaving my backer to play slower footed

[@michaeltedeschi8329]

The offensive answer to the 3 tech and the coverage being set to the RB side is to run the RPO out of pistol

[@CoachMac]

I've been a Pistol team a long time, that answers some things but limits others.

[@jasonstowers5807]

@@CoachMac bbb n. Fb fb good b

[@gibster9624]

As an offensive guy watching this. There is so much verbiage I'm not familiar with. I felt like I was spoon fed knowledge. It didn't help when the audio wasn't in synch.

[@CoachMac]

Sorry for the video issue, it had problems loading for some reason. As an offensive guy it can get it can get confusing but if you continue to study defensive structure and terminology it will make sense.

[@gibster9624]

+Thomas MacPherson any suggestions on good material to learn some of the phrases? I know what formations are, and what coverages are but I get lost when people say 10p or 20p

[@gibster9624]

+Robert Gibby or like 2x2 or 3x3

[@CoachMac]

10P or 20P just means who is on the field. 10 is 1 back no tight ends, 20 is 2 back no tight ends. 2x2 describes a formation with 2 receivers on each side. 3x1 means 3 receivers on one side and 1 receiver on the other.

[@gibster9624]

Thomas MacPherson oic. I grew up using words to describe formations instead of numbers. The numbers make perfect sense.

[@coachcal4876]

When you play mix. How do you teach the ss and fs dealing with 2and 3 running out routes. Don't really get that concept in palms vs 2x2. From what I understand from your video the Mike is expected to help with 3 but if 3 is running away that's tough. And the ss can't just jump 3 out like the corner can in palms because 2 is threatening flat. I hope my question makes since.

[@CoachMac]

Double outs is tough to defend in Mix. The SS and FS are playing palms off receivers who can both work out. The SS would take 2 with the Mike under 3 and the FS over 3. That's why you need multiple ways to defend trips

[@ericjohnson4877]

+Thomas MacPherson Coach, when you teach man coverage principles do you include a basis for deciding when to use what type of leverage? For example, locked man to man with no deep safety, I'll maybe play off-man and stack on top of the route whereas if there's a deep half safety I'll press and play an inside trail man technique. If there's no inside hook or middle hole defender, I'll play with inside leverage and try to force the throw outside where I'll use the sideline for help? Reason I ask is because if defenders are playing lock on one side, but without a deep half safety, they have to stack on top and probably use inside leverage on that RPO stick route by #2 which could be enough for the receiver to get position to make a play on the ball in front of the defender. If the defender tries to jump it and there's any type of double move or pump fake, with no deep half or even MOF safety that should be an opportunity to strike up the band. I know it's not a real popular solution, but I really like the initiative that cover 0 pressure gives to the defense. You're videos and insights are really, really good. I'd really like to see what your take on how to implement cover 0 into your defensive framework is like.

[@CoachMac]

With no help we want to play with inside leverage almost all the time unless the split dictates something different. If we have post safety help we can play with outside leverage and on the low hip. Personally I feel like inside leverage is good a bunch because inside throws are easier

[@ericjohnson4877]

+Thomas MacPherson The reason I brought up cover 0 is because when the corner and safety "lock" on #1 and #2, they are basically playing a cover 0 principle on that side of the field, with the exception that there is a LB to the inside with a hook zone assignment (although it's in conflict against the RPO). It just seems that the offense can easily use RPO blocking rules for intermediate/deep downfield play action passing by assigning the RB to come off a mesh fake and check release against the LB being read in an RPO. Now it's not really an RPO but you can use double moves that bait the DB into jumping the RPO stick or slant route and getting behind him.

[@CoachMac]

Yea because you know what the coverage is. That's why you constantly wrinkle what you play.