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Denbrock running game: The RPO
Posted on 9/1/22 at 6:12 pm
Posted on 9/1/22 at 6:12 pm
Welcome back everyone. Yesterday I made a post detailing the split zone running game of Mike Denbrock. I'm back at it again, with a topic I still consider to be a part of the run game, the RPO.
First, we must ask ourselves: What is the RPO? The RPO is a read/pass option, as the name indicates. To run the RPO, the quarterback will read one player, typically a linebacker or safety, while he is preparing to hand the ball off to the running back. Based off of this quick read, he will decide to hand the ball off, or make a throw. The image below shows a simple inside zone RPO
Now, what is the RPO NOT? The RPO is NOT a zone read. You do not need a "fast" QB to run the RPO. If the QB runs during an RPO, something has (*most likely*) gone horribly wrong. * there are exceptions
Denbrock does not run a ton of RPO, but definitely enough to keep defenses on their toes. His favorite, is a quick out similar to the above picture, when he sees off man or cover 3. A gif to demonstrate, working in tandem with the split zone.
Here is ECU in cover 3. The linebacker with flat responsibility (#11) was held in place for just a split second by the run, opening up the quick out.
Knowng his own tendencies, Denbrock knows that teams will key in on the quick out RPO. Here, he runs a quick out in the slot with the Z receiver faking a block, and then releasing deep
He will also throw the in breaking RPO. We've all seen Joe Burrow throw this to Jamarr chase a time or two..
Denbrock loves to get his #1 target 1 on 1 matchups. RPO is just one extra tool he uses to do that. Expect Kayshon Boutte to see a lot of quick easy RPO action. And when that corner comes up in press man, or starts to sit on the out route, expect this:
Our offense won't be RPO heavy, but it will be used to get easy completions, soften up the linebackers/safeties, and set up shot plays.
I may move on to passing game - more specifically play action next, or I may take a look at Matt House's defenses at UK. Depends how I'm feeling tomorrow. As always:
First, we must ask ourselves: What is the RPO? The RPO is a read/pass option, as the name indicates. To run the RPO, the quarterback will read one player, typically a linebacker or safety, while he is preparing to hand the ball off to the running back. Based off of this quick read, he will decide to hand the ball off, or make a throw. The image below shows a simple inside zone RPO
Now, what is the RPO NOT? The RPO is NOT a zone read. You do not need a "fast" QB to run the RPO. If the QB runs during an RPO, something has (*most likely*) gone horribly wrong. * there are exceptions
Denbrock does not run a ton of RPO, but definitely enough to keep defenses on their toes. His favorite, is a quick out similar to the above picture, when he sees off man or cover 3. A gif to demonstrate, working in tandem with the split zone.
Here is ECU in cover 3. The linebacker with flat responsibility (#11) was held in place for just a split second by the run, opening up the quick out.
Knowng his own tendencies, Denbrock knows that teams will key in on the quick out RPO. Here, he runs a quick out in the slot with the Z receiver faking a block, and then releasing deep
He will also throw the in breaking RPO. We've all seen Joe Burrow throw this to Jamarr chase a time or two..
Denbrock loves to get his #1 target 1 on 1 matchups. RPO is just one extra tool he uses to do that. Expect Kayshon Boutte to see a lot of quick easy RPO action. And when that corner comes up in press man, or starts to sit on the out route, expect this:
Our offense won't be RPO heavy, but it will be used to get easy completions, soften up the linebackers/safeties, and set up shot plays.
I may move on to passing game - more specifically play action next, or I may take a look at Matt House's defenses at UK. Depends how I'm feeling tomorrow. As always:
15
Posted on 9/1/22 at 6:39 pm to Not Cooper
Please keep doing this! This is some of the best content I’ve seen on here.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 6:51 pm to hall59tiger
quote:
Please keep doing this!
I plan on doing another tomorrow. I will probably be entirely too inebriated on saturday to do one, but maybe Sunday pregame I'll add a final chapter for this week.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 6:55 pm to Not Cooper
quote:
We've all seen Joe Burrow throw this to Jamarr chase a time or two..
The opening drive TD in the Florida game.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 7:14 pm to Not Cooper
Impressive post!
Posted on 9/1/22 at 7:37 pm to Not Cooper
Can't wait til you get to the passing game
Posted on 9/1/22 at 8:24 pm to Not Cooper
I guess you paid attention to my post about this board's IQ on RPO eh? 
Posted on 9/1/22 at 8:35 pm to deuce985
Pretty sure RPO stands for run/pass option
Posted on 9/1/22 at 8:49 pm to luvdatigahs
Dats da Joe Brady offense.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 8:49 pm to Not Cooper
Love the split zone.
Denbrock is a very solid, smart coach.
Hopefully the offense jells quickly. Almost new starters across the board.
Denbrock is a very solid, smart coach.
Hopefully the offense jells quickly. Almost new starters across the board.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 8:51 pm to Not Cooper
Let me guess: part 3, the passing game
Posted on 9/1/22 at 8:59 pm to Lester Earl
quote:
Let me guess: part 3, the passing game
frick all that. It will probably be a play action package. I don't have enough time on my hands to analyze all of the passing game concepts lol. Unless I get really bored tomorrow and decide to chart every pass.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 9:09 pm to Not Cooper
This is the content that makes this board great. Well done sir!
Additionally, seeing what denbrock runs it makes sense that the starting oline were all tackles at some point.
Additionally, seeing what denbrock runs it makes sense that the starting oline were all tackles at some point.
This post was edited on 9/1/22 at 9:13 pm
Posted on 9/1/22 at 9:42 pm to Tiger Ike
Some times you run the QB to keep them guessing and stay home.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 9:45 pm to Not Cooper
This needs to get bookmarked on top of the page fort the rest of the season.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 10:22 pm to Not Cooper
quote:
Now, what is the RPO NOT? The RPO is NOT a zone read. You do not need a "fast" QB to run the RPO. If the QB runs during an RPO, something has (*most likely*) gone horribly wrong. * there are exceptions
I like the effort to point this out but unfortunately people on this board refuse to understand this.
Posted on 9/2/22 at 7:49 am to Not Cooper
This opens up the offense so much. Not to say it's "free yards" but it allows us to get the ball in the hands of our best playmakers MUCH easier. Our offense struggled with that the last few years, too many downs with little to no gain because of how long we took to develop plays.
Posted on 9/2/22 at 7:59 am to Not Cooper
Fantastic post. Thank you for putting this together
Posted on 9/2/22 at 8:31 am to Not Cooper
I love this element. People might say it’s conservative, and I guess it is in a way because you’re not trying to hit a 15 yard post every other play. But it’s a quick way to get positive yards and stay ahead of the chains. It also minimizes perceived or actual flaws in pass pro and run blocking because it’s so quick. I’d like to see us use a more possession oriented approach as to what we had last year, which were mainly five step drops for Max (which always seemed to turn into 18 step sacks). Burrow and co. were excellent not only because of home run potential, but also these 5-8 yard possession plays that kept them ahead of the chains more often than not.
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