Wide Open …. How #4 Alabama trains their WR’s and utilizes RPOs to get them open
Jul 22, 2023 2:01 pm
Coach ,
Season Preview Capsule
Year to year we become more and more accustomed to the Crimson Tide’s success under Nick Saban. We additionally become more and more accustomed to the idea that he will probably have one or more new coordinators each season due to the predecessor becoming a coordinator or coach at the next level or taking a head coaching position. This year is no different and we will see Tommy Rees and Kevin Steele taking the helm of each side of the ball.
The transition won’t come without some struggles though as the offense looks to replace Bryce Young and the defense looks to replace Will Anderson. Big shoes to fill as anything other year in Tuscaloosa but, this one seems to be just a little different without any clear cut stars. The offense plans to continue the system it has been using and appears to have a 3 way QB battle on its hands. They will likely lean early on Jase McClellan and the running game to right the ship early. Defensively, they will lean on their secondary to hold down the fort relying heavily on Kool-Aid McKinstry to be a lockdown corner for them.
The Growing Game
The further the game progresses the more we realize the importance of WR’s but also the ability to train them into effective weapons. Route running becomes more and more of an importance with this. See how Holmon Wiggins progresses his WR’s in this clinic given at the SoCal Coaches Association Clini.
Video: WR Fundamentals/RPOs - Holmon Wiggins, Alabama
Identity
At different levels identity means something and it can also mean a variety of things. Ultimately, there are individual, position, unit and team identities. The best coach to ask about identity is typically your special teams coach, those guys love the military or themed items, they like the motto’s and all those kinds of things.
More than anything they understand their identity and the contribution it has to the team as a whole, they own and promote their part as far as they possibly can through energy and enthusiasm. Learn how Coach Wiggins gives his receivers an extra edge.
Video: Play with an E.D.G.E
RPO Division
Dividing your RPO into levels is a pretty novel concept and is widely understood. But, depending on your system and the QB you have there are some more complicated items you can utilize to aid your offense. When we are doing 3rd level RPO’s we can factor in a Whip read and a FS read for example giving us really a 3 man route progression that becomes something the QB is reacting to and not something they are truly reading. This is something that is utilized by the Crimson Tide in large part due to the success at QB they have had through Tua, Mac Jones and Bryce Young. Coach Wiggins outlines their reads on RPOs here.
Wrapping it Up
There is a lot of content here to progress through. Coach Wiggins gives great details and leads you through the skill development of his WR room that has seen the likes of Jameson Williams, John Metchie III, Jaylen Waddle, and Devonta Smith to name a few. Incorporate these skills and aid your WR play and you will likely see the success rate of your RPOs as a whole increase due to the abundance of options regardless of coverage.
Strive to Succeed!
Coach Kauffman
Other Clinics from the Alabama Staff:
Q&A with Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban, HC
Other Courses Analyzing the Alabama Offense:
Alabama Offensive Breakdown 2.0
Alabama's National Championship Game
Alabama Offensive Breakdown 2019
National Championship Face-Off