Texas A&M’s pro-option offense gives the quarterback the ability to turn any play call into an option play. Typically every run play has a pass option tagged onto it making it a run-pass option or RPO. A&M’s quarterbacks shoulder a lot of responsibility in Jimbo Fisher’s offense. RPOs make the game simple. On most plays, the QB only has to read one defender which simplifies decision-making.
Related: Play Breakdown: Texas A&M Runs All-Hitch
QB Draw RPO Concept
The QB Draw RPO is a simple one-read play. A&M runs QB Draw RPO out of 11 personnel with three receivers to the field and a TE to the boundary. The outside receiver to the field goes vertical, the inside and outside slot run five yard out routes, and the TE runs a stalking route. The read man is the LB aligned to the field. If the LB drops to cover the inside slot, the QB keeps the ball and follows the RB’s lead block on the draw. If the LB stays inside, the QB hits one of the two slots on their out route.
The first time A&M ran QB Draw RPO against Arkansas in 2019, Arkansas came out in in a deep safety in Cover 1. A CB was playing off coverage on the boundary receiver, a safety was off the outside slot, and #8 MLB De’Jon Harris was the apex between the left tackle and the inside slot receiver. Because of his position as a box defender responsible for the outside flat, Harris is the read man for the play.
Executing the Play
Texas A&M QB Draw RPO
Read man is LB to field, in this case #8. He drops into coverage so QB keeps and follows RB lead block.
12 yard gain and a 1st down pic.twitter.com/2ABD01IIup
— James Taglienti (@iamthe12thman) July 4, 2022
Because Harris drops into coverage on the inside slot’s out route, it left Bumper Pool as the only box defender. Kellen Mond made the keep read and followed Isaiah Spiller’s lead block. The result of the play was a 12 yard gain and a first down.
Texas A&M QB Draw RPO
Read man is still LB to field. He drops straight back and then out, so QB hits outside slot on out route. pic.twitter.com/m94zJiZdPa
— James Taglienti (@iamthe12thman) July 4, 2022
The second time A&M ran QB Draw RPO, Harris tried to be a little more subtle. Harris dropped straight back instead of widening into coverage. Harris was trying to cause a keep read. Mond saw the gimmick for what it was, and hit outside slot Quartney Davis on the out route. The result is an easy catch and first down.
The QB Draw RPO is a simple base concept. It punishes defenses for overplaying their secondary to stop the passing game. With Haynes King, Max Johnson, and Conner Weigman, the Aggies have several quarterbacks capable of successfully executing this concept in 2022.
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