RPO vs. Read Pass

The term RPO is very popular in today’s football. It is almost impossible to watch a football game without hearing the term RPO. It is an overused term to explain what is in some cases, is an unexplainable play by the TV analysts. Like many concepts in football, the term RPO has different meanings to different coaches. For the most part the term RPO refers to a run concept that involves a pass element where the quarterback must make a post snap read of a defender and decide whether he should hand the ball off to the RB or throw the football to a receiver. This means the quarterback is reading a certain defender post snap, to decide whether the ball is thrown in or handed off to the RB. The QB performs his read and executes his handoff or throws the ball at the same point in the backfield – behind the Center at the mesh point with the RB. The read pass concept is much superior and very different from the RPO. The read pass involves forcing the defense to run rotate to defend the run and the QB delivering the ball to the weekend area of the defense. The read pass system forces a defense to rotate to defend all gaps on the perimeter for screens as well as internally for all run plays. The read pass involves the QB meshing with a RB and then if the read tells the QB to disengage he will step back from the mesh and “run to throw.” The term “run to throw” simply means the QB disengages from the RB and attacks the perimeter with the double threat posture. The “run to throw” aspect of the QB’s technique places much more pressure on the defense. The read pass is much more difficult to defend because of the multiple running attack points (gaps) as well as multiple screens and perimeter quick games. The read pass system creates simpler reads for the QB and is much easier to practice on a daily or weekly schedule. This system also replaces the need for other plays in your offense such as the play action passes, bootlegs, called screens and the entire quick game.