Texas A&M runs various different concepts as part of their pro-option offense, but the Inside Zone/Glance RPO is unique in its design. Many RPO concepts attack a second level defender like a LB or nickelback, but the inside zone/glance RPO also attacks a third level defender, the deep safety.
Play Concept
Inside zone/glance is a simple play. The offensive line blocks inside zone and the RB runs his zone path. The playside WR runs a five-step skinny post. Inside zone/glance attacks a linebacker against one safety looks and attacks the playside safety in two-safety looks.
In inside zone/glance RPO, the playside receiver runs a five-yard skinny post. The play diagram above shows both receivers running a skinny post in a twin concept. The RB has his normal Bang/Bounce/Bend rule on inside zone. In inside zone/glance RPO, you’re replacing the extra run defender for inside zone with the glance route by the receiver. If the defense is running Cover 1, the extra defender is a linebacker, so the linebacker is the read man. When facing Cover 2, the extra defender is a safety, so it is a third-level read on the safety.
The strongside TE and LT double to the backside linebacker like every inside zone play. LG and C combo/Ace block to middle linebacker. RG and RT combo block weak DE to first backside run thread on second level.
Executing Inside Zone/Glance RPO
Texas A&M comes out in 12 personnel with Glenn Beal in-line and Jaylen Wydermyer on the left wing. Isaiah Spiller is aligned to the left of Kellen Mond in the backfield. Quartney Davis is wide to the field and Jhamon Ausbon is the lone boundary receiver.
Both Davis and Ausbon run 5-step skinny post routes. The corner covering Davis rotates to cover the Robber’s drop into the box. Beal and Wydermyer crush the strongside end and Wydermyer goes into the second level. LT Dan Moore checks the end then picks up the blitzing LB. LG Jared Hocker helps C Colton Prater on the NG and then climbs second level to block the BSLB. RG Kenyon Green helps RT Carson Green block WDE Telvin Agim and then climbs, he wants to seal the weak apex outside.
Spiller meshes in front of Mond and runs his zone steps. Mond fakes to Spiller and hits Ausbon on the skinny post for 17 yards and the first down.
Analysis
Arkansas is showing a 3-4 structure with an Okie front, two inside linebackers with two apex defenders on the edges with Cover 2 man under in the secondary. It is 2nd and 3 and Arkansas is trying to tempt A&M to run the ball by showing a light tackle box. A 3-2 front with apex defenders looks like a running situation for 12 personnel because it is 7-on-7 inside. Add the QB and RB and the offense has a 9-on-7 advantage.
At the snap, the strong safety rolls down into the box and Arkansas’ intent is clear. It is an eight-man front with the strongside apex playing the QB on inside zone. The three interior DL and ILBs clog the inside gaps. Weakside apex watches for weakside run then drops into flat defender. The strong safety is a robber, covering the flats against TE routes and an extra man against the run.
Arkansas rotates to a Cover 1 after the snap. The strong safety comes down as a Robber. Mond could throw to Davis on the skinny post, but it is a brief window between the robber and the corner covering him. Ausborn was the safer throw to the boundary with the FS dropping deep. Arkansas had a good defensive plan for this situation, A&M had the right play called and Mond made the right read and executed the play.