Coach -
Some matchups aren't worth the fight. You can scheme, drill technique, and prepare all week, but when game day comes, some defenders will win more often than not. That's why smart offenses don't fight uphill battles—they create solutions.
As Joe Moorhead says, "If you can't block them, read them." That simple philosophy defines the modern RPO game. It's not about being stubborn and trying to outmuscle superior talent—it's about manipulating defenders, gaining numbers, and putting your best athletes in space.
Why Read a Defender?
Offensive football has three key advantages: numbers, angles, and matchups. When a defense has the numbers in the box, a traditional run call might be dead before the ball is snapped. That's where the RPO game forces a defender into conflict.
Moorhead explains it simply: "What we won't do as a staff is ask our players to do something that they are not either mentally or physically capable of doing." If your left tackle can't handle a dominant edge rusher one-on-one, don't waste time chipping or doubling—read him instead. Force him to hesitate. Make him wrong, no matter what he does.
Coach Moorhead explains the philosophy in this video:
Video: Reason to Read Defenders and Create Conflict
Creating Conflict at Every Level
Reading a defender isn't just about neutralizing the edge. The best RPO systems create conflict at multiple levels:
- First Level (Defensive Line): If a defensive end crashes down, the QB pulls and attacks the edge. If he stays wide, the ball is handed off.
- Second Level (Linebackers): A backside linebacker reading the run gets sucked in, opening an easy throw to a glance or slant behind him.
- Third Level (Defensive Backs): Safeties triggered into run fits create space for a vertical shot or a quick-hitting perimeter throw.
Defenses are trained to react quickly, but when you make them hesitate—even for half a second—that's all the offense needs to take control.
Matchups Matter More Than Plays
Great play-callers don't just design plays—they design solutions. Every week, staffs identify "game wreckers" on the opposing defense. These are the players who can single-handedly wreck a scheme.
Paul Pasqualoni, one of Moorhead's mentors, drilled this into his coaching staff at UConn: "Don't let the game wreckers wreck the game." That means tailoring the game plan to avoid bad matchups entirely. Instead of running straight into a dominant defensive tackle or forcing a receiver into a poor leverage situation, use formations, motions, and reads to dictate favorable conditions.
Coaching Smarter, Not Harder
Too many teams try to impose their will on a defense, even when the matchups don't favor them. The best coaches don't force things—they create stress for the defense instead.
By embracing the RPO philosophy, teams can:
- Gain a numbers advantage without needing extra blockers.
- Keep defenders guessing, slowing their reaction time.
- Put playmakers in space instead of forcing them into traffic.
The game will always come down to execution, but how you structure that execution matters. If you want an offense that adapts and thrives, take Moorhead's advice: If you can't block them, read them.
Thank you to Coach Moorhead for contributing to the Lauren's First & Goal cause again in the recent clinic.
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Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski
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