Arizona State and Texas A&M faced off this weekend in College Station. TAMU ran away with the game late, but both teams came in with nearly identical game plans on offense. First, establish the run, even though neither team topped 115 yards on the ground. Second, hit timely RPOs off those runs. Third, take the shot play when the time is right. The ironic part is both teams threw similar RPOs, and both team’s shot play came on the same route combination, just out of different formations.
RPOs
Glance
Both ASU and TAMU wanted to throw glance, TAMU from gap scheme and ASU from zone scheme.
Here Texas A&M reads the play side safety, which is tough but doable. He fits on the counter, so the quarterback pulls it and delivers the glance route for a first down. It is a different read style, but that can also throw the defense off since players are used to the running back usually being the read.
Arizona State throws glance from 10 personnel trips set. The defense is in Cover 1, so the read is simplified. Eyes on the Will, and if he fits, throw the glance, which your receiver should be able to beat the corner on inside. It does not have to be perfect. Just win inside.
Y Pop
Arizona State did throw one interesting wrinkle that the Aggies did not, so it is worth highlighting here. The Sun Devils line up in 11 personnel and motion the tight end into the wing position. They run Dart, read the Will, and deliver a well timed Y Pop to the tight end as he clears the second level. It is a nice touch by the Sun Devils at the perfect time, with the Aggies playing overaggressive in the run game.
