Film Room: Inside Notre Dame's RPO System - Part II

We continue our series breaking down Notre Dame's RPO (Run Pass Option) system that new offensive coordinator Chip Long is installing into the offense.

To read the first part of the series, which goes over the basic philosophy and principles of the system, READ HERE.

The initial breakdown involved the double option aspect of the RPO system that Long employs, but there is also a triple option version of the system.

In this version of the RPO, the quarterback has the option to give the ball, to pull it and work outside on a run or to throw the ball to the perimeter. When this is the read for the quarterback, he will have two defenders to read.

In the double option version of the RPO, the quarterback simply reads the force player, knowing the box defenders are taken care off, primarily the defensive end. In the triple option version, the offense can leave either the end or inside backer to backside of the zone unblocked.

Here the offense leaves the end unblocked, and that defender serves as the "give read." If the end stays out and plays the quarterback, the quarterback will simply give the ball to the back. If the end plays the running back the quarterback will pull the ball and start working outside.

His second read will be one of the two alley defenders which are linked above. Basically, the quarterback is looking to run unless one of those two alley players force him to throw the ball out to the screen.

At the snap the end tries to play both, but he's working inside with his feet, so the quarterback correctly pulls the ball and gets outside.

The quarterback takes off outside with the idea of running upfield with the ball. If one of the two "pull-throw" read defenders come flying at hime he has the option of getting the ball outside to the screen receiver.

South Florida has a defender in position, but the nature of the RPO system creates one-on-one situations in space, and with the defender coming from distance with speed it makes it easier for the receiver to make him miss.

Here is another example.

The defensive look is different, but the read is the same. At the snap the quarterback will get his eyes on the end for the give read. If he pulls he will work upfield and get his eyes on the two alley defenders.

In this instance, the end works across the face of the right tackle, so the tackle blocks him down and the tight end gets up to the linebacker. With the end blocked, the quarterback simply gives the ball and the offense gets about eight yards.

The defensive end is again blocked by the tackle, but this time he makes a very hard charge upfield, so the quarterback decides to pull the ball and get outside.

The corner sinks so the outside receiver blocks the force player. The quarterback works upfield and as soon as the boundary safety commits downhill the quarterback pulls the ball and gets it outside on the screen.

Once the safety commits to the quarterback it gives the offense a 2-on-2 outside. The cornerback is coming up from distance, which isn't an easy tackle, and the receiver cuts away from him and turns it into a big gain.

The majority of the RPO's in Long's offense at Memphis were built around screens and quick throws to the perimeter. There are times, however, where the quarterback makes his read for a downfield throw.

Here's an example:

The slot receiver began this play on the right side of the offensive formation but motioned across, which caused the boundary linebacker to slide into the box. It gives the tight end a good angle to get to the second level, especially with the end down over the tackle.

Memphis is running a tackle wrap play which gets a fourth blocker to the call side. The tackle is responsible for working up to the force player, who is normally the read key. That makes the boundary safety the read key.

The boundary receiver is running a post route behind the safety.

If the safety stays back, the quarterback will hand the ball off. If the safety steps down to fit behind the force player/linebacker, the quarterback will pull and throw.

The safety does not really fly downhill, so the quarterback decides to give the ball to the back.

Long sees that the safety is cheating down with his alignment, standing at just 7-8 yards at the snap and the cornerback playing off.

He immediately goes right back to the same play. Same formation, same motion, same play-call with the same backfield action.

The reason for going right back to the same call is the safety can't defend the post route from that depth unless he pedals at the snap. The safety again stays down tight, so this time the quarterback pulls the ball and throws it behind the safety for a post route, which is complete for a gain of over 20 yards.

This actually looks like a play-action pass from a backfield action perspective, but if you look at the offensive line it's obvious they are blocking for a run.

Banging this post route behind the safety put Houston in a bind. It could keep the safety down against the run or it could alter its coverage and get the safety off the ball.

When Houston backed the safety off, Memphis went back to this call and the run lane was much bigger.

Memphis runs the call from a two tight end set, but Houston still keeps the safety off the ball, and the result is an 11-yard gain.

In the initial breakdown it was shown how the quarterback will execute essentially a double option when running an RPO. He will carry out a mesh with the running back while reading a force defender.

There are times when the action of the read key can allow the quarterback to simply receive the snap and throw it.

The true RPO read is to the right of the offense, and the player the quarterback would read for the give-pull mesh is the "primary read" defender.

Although the receivers to the right of the formation are involved in the RPO read, the offense is mirroring the look screen on both sides of the ball. Therefore, there is a read to be made to that side, but it's a pre-snap read.

Prior to the snap, the read key to the backside, the "secondary read", decides to fly up pre-snap and blitz off the edge. If that defender blitzes after the snap the offense is fine, he won't impact the play. By showing his blitz before the snap the quarterback is able to recognize his pressure and react accordingly.

Even if the defender doesn't blitz, the quarterback is making a quality decision to throw it backside to the screen. Based on where the secondary read ends up before the snap, the offense has gained a leverage advantage to the outside.

With the field safety playing so far off the ball, he isn't a factor in the play, so the offense has 2-on-2 to the field but the leverage advantage gives the offense a chance for success. The secondary read gets back outside and the deep safety closes on the ball, but not until the receiver is able to pick up 9-10 yards and the first down.

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