Inside Sark's RPO Sequencing

Under Sark, Texas always carries the expectation of fielding an elite offense. When we picture the Longhorn offense, our minds jump straight to plays like G/H Counter Bluff Reverse or the Sark screens. And while I love those calls, sometimes it's worth getting back to the core of the offense to see what really makes it tick. But instead of breaking down the base run schemes they live on like counter, outside zone, and split zone, let's look at some of my favorite RPOs they throw off those very schemes.

Start Simple

We always start simple with the most basic concepts, the bubble and now screens off run game to give the offense that extra stretch factor against defenses.

Now we see a variation out of a stack set off tackle trap. And while this isn't anything groundbreaking, it's part of a larger sequence for the Longhorns.

Now we see a variation out of a stack set off tackle trap. And while this isn't anything groundbreaking, it's part of a larger sequence for the Longhorns.

We saw the bubble from the stack, but now comes the wrinkle. The first receiver in the stack shows like he's blocking for the bubble, then releases late on a slant. And while it doesn't hit on this rep, the concept is effective and worth a look if you throw bubbles as RPOs, which you probably already do. This is where good play callers like Sark separate themselves: they build answers off their current plays to attack defensive adjustments.

Stay Simple

Stick might be one of the most effective RPOs an offense can install. I tell the story all the time about how hard it was to stop an offense that effectively threw stick off zone action at the high school level. When the offense makes the correct read and executes, it's nightmare fuel for a defensive coordinator.

Against Florida, the Longhorns ran stick off outside zone with a slice. Compressed set, outside zone going one way and stick the other, which creates two different horizontal stretches on the defense. This is another simple read. In this set the Will linebacker can either fit the run or play the stick concept. He works to fit the run, and Texas throws the sit route, or whatever you want to call it.