Defending the RPO (run/pass option

[Patsfanin Philly]

Foles also needs to get clobbered every time he gets outside the pocket. Whether he keeps it or not.

I think that is how he hurt his ribs in the NFCCG on the RPO. And their backup is a very, very green rookie, Sudfeld.

 

[Kontradiction]

I think that is how he hurt his ribs in the NFCCG on the RPO. And their backup is a very, very green rookie, Sudfeld.

Yeah that’s how he was injured. And the Vikings only really did that once or twice. If I’m the Patriots, I’m knocking his ass into outer space every time he gets outside the pocket on a RPO. It’s perfectly legal and those hits take their toll after a while. You want to run that offense? Have at it. But your QB is going to need to be helped off the field by the 4th quarter.

 

[BobDigital]

Here is how i think they will defend it. Foles gets his key pretty much entirely off how the LBs react. There is no time in this play to read a number of keys. Unless there is something on the pre-snap that makes him want to pass before even seeing what the LBs do that is how he determines it pretty much every time. Maybe he will instead of the LBs focus on the SS in some plays depending on what the particular run option is. In either case he only has time to read 1 key per play after the ball is snapped.

If I'm coaching the Patriots I tell the LBs and SS to keep true to their assignments and don't bite on the run option. If Foles reads it right and they run based off that key then you try to stop it after the hand off and see if your LBs can react and DLs can hold their spot.

The key to beating such a gimmick is playing sound D. The way you do this the best IMO is show them they same key every time so the correct option is to run.

Now Foles and the Eagles need to make a choice. Do they just run over and over or do they pass vs a pass look? If they try to run every play cause that is the look the LBs give them then it becomes predictable. It allows you to react faster after the hand off as you are seeing the same thing over and over. That favors the D.

Also if the run is stuffed or a penalty happens you show them the same look again and see if they would dare run on 2nd or 3rd and long.

Also keep in mind the RPO is sometimes the look but not always the call. The team may at times show the RPO but it is just the shown look and they have already decided before the play what they will do.

In either case I'm a believer in you are always better off with your players not biting on play action or the RPO. If they pass you are in position to stop the bigger play. If they run depending on how your DL plays you have a chance to recover and in either case it is a smaller gain.

 

[Ring 6]

Here is how i think they will defend it. Foles gets his key pretty much entirely off how the LBs react. There is no time in this play to read a number of keys. Unless there is something on the pre-snap that makes him want to pass before even seeing what the LBs do that is how he determines it pretty much every time. Maybe he will instead of the LBs focus on the SS in some plays depending on what the particular run option is. In either case he only has time to read 1 key per play after the ball is snapped.

Where are you getting this from? This isn’t true.

If I'm coaching the Patriots I tell the LBs and SS to keep true to their assignments and don't bite on the run option. If Foles reads it right and they run based off that key then you try to stop it after the hand off and see if your LBs can react and DLs can hold their spot.

Huh? You are going to the the second level to not read run on a run? We would get steamrolled.

The key to beating such a gimmick is playing sound D. The way you do this the best IMO is show them they same key every time so the correct option is to run.

You want to play the same defense every play? Honestly?

Now Foles and the Eagles need to make a choice. Do they just run over and over or do they pass vs a pass look? If they try to run every play case that is the look the LBs give them then it becomes predictable. It allows you to react faster after the hand off as you are seeing the same thing over and over. That favors the D.

You understand this has nothing to do with RPO and you can do this against any team right?

Also

If the run is stuffed or a penalty happens you show them the same look again and see if they would dare run on 2nd or 3rd and long.

So your plan is to vacate the box enticing them to run so that you can put them in 2nd and long? This is bizarre.

Also keep in mind the RPO is sometimes the look but not always the call. The team may at times show the RPO but it is just the shown look and they have already decided before the play what they will do.

You have totally lost me here.

In either case I am a believer in you are always better off with your players not biting on play action or the RPO. If they pass you are in position to stop the bigger play. If they run depending on how your DL plays you have a chance to recover and in either case it is a smaller gain.

You can’t tell LBs not to bite on play action. Otherwise yiubare telling them to ignore the run. That would mean they take pass drops on every running play. The eagles will have 200 rushing yards by halftime.

 

[everlong]

Interesting article

Defeating RPOs (Run-Pass Options) By Utilizing Defensive-Line Movement & Match-Quarters - AFCA Weekly


What’s the new en-vogue defense that most teams are switching to? The old-school 4-3 Over Defense.

Even Nick Saban, who traditionally, utilizes a 3-4 defense, now runs four down-linemen against spread teams.

 

[nabwong]

I’m just worried that our abysmal linebacker unit is going to get torn to shreds.

I think there's gonna be more big nickel with McCourty, Chung and Harmon/Rowe so hopefully we don't have to rely on our LBs. The key is to get more speed on D but still find the balance to stop the run.

 

[maineman209]

Interesting discussion here of RPOs versus man-coverage (with diagrams) from the offense's perspective:

Four RPO Answers to Beat Man Coverage | X&O Labs Football Trends Report

 

[maineman209]

I think there's gonna be more big nickel with McCourty, Chung and Harmon/Rowe so hopefully we don't have to rely on our LBs. The key is to get more speed on D but still find the balance to stop the run.

Both McCourty and Chung are pretty good in run-D and man coverage. The BB/Saban/Patricia schemes probably incorporate more concepts that can be adapted to defeat an RPO than most other teams have.

 

[nabwong]

Both McCourty and Chung are pretty good in run-D and man coverage. The BB/Saban/Patricia schemes probably incorporate more concepts that can be adapted to defeat an RPO than most other teams have.

The battle would have been won in practice. If the pats have a good week of practice to instill the players with these concepts, then I think we can win.

 

[maineman209]

The battle would have been won in practice. If the pats have a good week of practice to instill the players with these concepts, then I think we can win.

I think it's likely that the players have been using many of these concepts regularly, and that it may be more a matter of applying them to what they're likely to see.