Rupert Patrick wrote:What is the difference between RPO and play-action? I always thought RPO was like some sort of Madden game abbreviation for play-action that caught on with announcers and that the two terms meant the same thing.Reaser wrote:"RPO" when it's play-action and not a RPO.
"Play action" is short for play action pass. It is a pass play.
An RPO is a run play with a pass option.
A play action pass play is designed to look like a run play. There is a fake handoff to a runner. The quarterback then looks to pass the ball. The offense is looking to trick some defenders, maybe get some linebackers and/or defensive backs to bite on the fake handoff and then get those guys away from the pass receivers.
On run pass options the linemen block like a regular run play. The only difference is that depending upon how he reads the defense, the quarterback may decide to throw the ball instead of running with it himself or flipping it to a tailback.