Conflict defender
The guy the RPO is reading
The defender an RPO or option play is designed to put in conflict — usually a linebacker or safety who has to choose between the run and the pass. Whatever he picks, he's wrong.
When it applies
Every RPO and zone-read snap has one; find him and you know the QB's read.
+ StrengthsIdentifying him pre-snap tells you where the ball is going.
− Trade-offsGood defenses disguise who the conflict defender is until after the snap.
Filed under: Jargon buster