If you have been on any football websites that discuss schemes, you start to see the screen filled up with titles that involve "RPOs". The next evolution of offense seems to be trending towards packaging run plays with pass plays and allowing the QB to decide what play should be run based on what the defense does. It is basically an option offense that incorporates the pass in the play.
The problem I have a lot of times with coaches is how they like to coin things as "new" or "unique" to their offense...like they just came up with a completely original idea. In reality, all they have done is taken a previously developed concept and adapted it to a new style of offense or set of plays. There needs to be credit given for the innovation of adapting the concept to new plays, but do not act like you developed the first concept of a run/pass option. The first concept of a run/pass option was develop well over 75 years ago...it's now coming back into trend with the new spread offenses.
The first concept of a run/pass option in the modern game of football was the bootleg pass. The concept is to play action a run, get the QB on the edge, and have him either pass to an open receiver or run if there is open space. The bootleg pass has been in existence since the 1940's, with arguably the best one being developed in 1968...the Waggle.
Why do I think the Waggle is the best bootleg ever developed? Look at what I described a bootleg as...a concept where you play action a run, get the QB on the edge, and have him execute the run/pass option. The Waggle does that, but to the extreme!
First, the Waggle does not just play action a single play (like most bootlegs), but two plays...the Trap and the Bucksweep. This leads to a longer freeze by the defense due to the uncertainty of the ball being either with the HB, FB, or QB. A longer freezing of the defense gives a greater chance of the Waggle to hit big.
The second part of a bootleg is that it allows the QB to get to the edge. This is usually allowed due to the play action fake and a guard pulling to seal or lead for the QB. The Waggle has the great play action fakes, but takes the guard pulling to the max, with both guards pulling to seal and lead for the QB! With both guards pulling, this is designed to assure the edge is set and gives the QB time to make his run/pass option. It also assures that any extra defenders on the side of the formation the Waggle is going towards gets covered up by a blocker or receiver. Again, more time and room for the QB to execute the run/pass option.
Finally, the Waggle takes the run/pass option to the extreme by having potentially 6 options for the QB to move the ball. You have the Go route by the SE for the big hitter, the FB in the flats for a quick, high-percentage pass, the TE on a difficult-to-cover crossing pattern, the WB going deep with a post/streak route for another big hitter, the HB flaring out of the backfield for the throwback, and the QB running the ball with at least one lead blocker, if not possibly two.
Some would argue it is a just a pass play, so that is why there is so many options. That may be true, but tell me what other pass play has 5 receivers out on a route and a possible two lead blockers for the QB to run if he needs to? The only one that does that is the Waggle.
That was just my two cents on RPOs and the best one out there (in my opinion), the Waggle.
RPOs are very interesting plays that I feel with continue to develop for years to come. They are a great example of the innovation of coaches...taking old ideas and applying them to new schemes. Just remember that you are not reinventing the wheel, you are just making it more efficient and making some cosmetic changes to it!
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