Welcome to Scheme Fitting. This is the next step in draft prospect evaluation, where not only do I touch on the strengths and weaknesses of a player but also the best fit and scheme for said player. The last go round I featured the TITE defensive front. I took a look at the functionality of the scheme and fit players in that I thought would be successful.
This time around I’m doing the opposite. Instead of fitting player to scheme, I’m fitting scheme to player. There is only one position in football important enough to build an entire scheme around and that’s the Quarterback position. If you think of an NFL offense like a car, the engine would be the offensive line, the tires with flashy rims would be the receivers and the Quarterback would be the driver. The QB directs the offense and puts all the components to use. It’s only right that you build an offense catered to the strengths of your QB. You wouldn’t put slow super cautious and conservative driver behind the wheel of a Ferrari would you? No, that would keep the car from functioning at it’s highest capabilities. In a perfect world you want your offense and your QB functioning in lock step at it’s highest capabilities.
So let’s start with the WHO
Enter MALIK WILLIS.
In order to build a scheme around a QB, you must first know who and what that QB is. So who and what is Malik Willis? Malik Willis as a QB is an athlete first and foremost. All the physical traits you want in a QB are present in Willis. High end arm talent, excellent mobility, playmaking ability outside of structure, strength, all those traits are part of what makes Malik Willis unique.
Physical is only half of the equation. As far as running an offense, Willis is a bit raw. Nothing against the players at Liberty but there were obvious talent limitations that led to scheme limitations, which ultimately lead to Malik Willis not being asked to do things like go through progressions rapidly, set protections, be able to Identify coverages pre and post snap etc. From everything I’ve seen and read, Malik Willis is a smart guy so my estimation is that it’s only a matter of time before he gets up to speed. But in the meantime what do you do with a physically gifted QB that needs to fine tune his game?
RPO
RPO stands for Run Pass Option. It is an offense that is designed to run or pass the ball depending on what the QB choose. The concept is simple, pick one of the 11 defenders and make them wrong. Put a defender in conflict. It’s like a “You do this, and I’ll do that” type of reactionary concept. At the snap of the ball the offensive linemen are run blocking. This serves 2 purposes. (1) The offensive linemen are creating a running lane for the RB (2) The offensive linemen are drawing the Linebackers in close to defend what they believe to be a running play. The passing concepts can vary from a sticks concept, where the play side receivers all run quick hitting stick routes to bubble screens or even some vertical routes. The primary option in the RPO passing game would be the receiver that the conflicted defender is responsible for.
The QB will put the ball into the RB stomach further carrying out the fake. It is at this point that the QB’s only job is to make a defender wrong. Typically, a LB is used as the key. The weakside LB has run fit responsibility as well as coverage duty on the #3 WR or TE. If the LB comes up to play the run, the QB will throw to the uncovered receiver. If the LB stays back to defend the pass, the offense has favorable numbers in the run game, meaning the offense has more blockers than defenders, so the QB hands the ball off. “You do that, I do this”.
RPO is also run pre snap as well. Same concept based on reaction, this time it is based on formation. Picture this: 11 Personnel (3WR 1 TE 1 RB) lined up in a 3×1 set (3 receivers play side, 1 to the boundary). The defense is in a 4-2-5 Nickel in a Cover 2 shell (both Safeties deep) The read for the QB would be that WILL LB. If the LB lines up on the #3 WR in the slot, now you have a light box with only 4 Defensive linemen and 1 MIKE LB, run the ball. If the LB stays in a stacked formation, that means you got your 3# WR open in space, pass the ball. “You go here, I go there”.
The RPO is a quick hitting concept that makes it easy for a QB still developing in his progressions to be effective on the field. Instead of reading disguised defenses and passing concepts he’s reading “this or that”. RPO is not unstoppable though. The best way to combat a quick hitting RPO is to throw man coverage into the mix. It can disrupt the timing and eliminates the responsibility of defending both run and pass for the defender. That same 4-2-5 Cover 2 shell I mentioned above would be troublesome if they spin that down into Cover 1 Robber post snap.
This is where playing to your QB strengths comes in. Say a Defense wants to play man. Ok fine, have your defenders turn their backs to my QB and run vertical with my receivers. I’ll just tell my mobile, athletic 220lb QB to use his legs and take what the defense is giving him. “Make the defense wrong”
So now that we know what we want to run with Malik Willis. Let’s add the proper talent to pull it off.
The Offensive Line:
When running RPO your offensive linemen are doing more run blocking than pass sets. They will be tasked to run some inside zone as well as outside zone, along with some screen plays. With these requirements you’ll be looking for OL with power to move defenders in the run game and the mobility to make blocks on the move. The pass sets will be developed as the QB develops as a true passer.
LT – Ikem Ekwonu – Ekwonu is big athletic and has a mean streak that is top notch. His movement ability in space and power at the POA is the perfect combination to protect Willis’ blindside.
LG – Zion Johnson – Another player that is strong at the POA. Johnson is also skilled in his pass sets and very mobile. Paired with Ekwonu a screen to the left side would be devastating.
C – Nick Ford – Ford isn’t as mobile as the players mentioned before, but he makes up for it with strength and a nasty attitude in the run game. Ford will create room on in the running game with combo blocks and vertical displacement.
RG – Ed Ingram – Big, strong and athletic is the theme of this offensive line and Ingram fits right in. Ingram shows some ability to get movement at the POA and shows strong hand placement to control defenders in outside zone.
RT – Darian Kinnard – Kinnard is another player with the size/strength combo to move bodies in the run game. His footwork needs development in the pass game, but as he is now, Kinnard definitely has what is required in the RPO game.
Running Back
With a heavy zone scheme in place, we want a RB that will be a threat the defense will be forced to honor. Someone that can put his foot in the ground in zone and cut up field as well as keep an eye out for the cut back lane. Being an option in the pass game as a check down and screen plays is a must.
Breece Hall – Breece Hall has the footwork and vision to excel in a zone heavy scheme where he will have his choice of running lanes. The threat of the QB running will makes rushing lanes even bigger for him.
Zonovan Knight – “Bam” Knight is another RB with good short area quickness and COD ability. Knight has experience with zone running schemes, mostly running outside zone in college. In RPO a LB would have to honor the threat of Zonovan Knight getting outside.
Wide Receiver
When you have a young QB that is still getting up to speed with precise timing and nuanced route concepts, getting a receivers that can win on their own is essential. With a run heavy offense around Willis, a receiver corp that can keep the defense honest is required. Also run after catch ability is heightened in this RPO heavy scheme. There will be a lot of quick hitting plays and players catching the ball in space. The ability to outrun and make defenders miss is key.
Jameson Williams – The best friend of a run heavy team is a deep threat. Williams has the speed to keep the Safety from cheating down into the box. When the QB scrambles and extends the play, who would you rather have when the play turns into sandlot football?
Christian Watson – Size, catch radius, physicality. Watson has the size and physicality and speed to present himself as a reliable target in this offense. He also can run with the ball in his hands so quick slants and stick routes can go a long way.
Wan’Dale Robinson – Add to the window dressing and stress the defense even more. The quickness and shiftiness with the ball in his hands adds a dynamic threat to the offense. Running RPO with Robinson showing the defense jet motion or orbit motion would cause all types of problems.