The Loaded Box Solution: Designed QB Runs and QB Driven RPOs


“People think man takes a lot of RPOs out of the equation, but you can’t play a lot of man against QB run teams because they will get you numbers-wise and you will have defenders turning and running away from where the quarterback is running the football.” --Dave Marsh, Offensive Coordinator, Texas Southern University.

By Mike Kuchar

Senior Research Manager

X&O Labs

Twitter: @MikeKKuchar




To be clear, we’re not talking about RPO based offenses, flexbone or triple option systems where the quarterback is asked to make up to three reads when the ball is snapped… 


I’m talking about simple no-read, or one-read, runs which allow the running back to be a blocker—giving the numbers advantage back to the offense. 


While the premise of the dual-threat quarterback is nothing new, the dynamic of a pure running quarterback has now “trickled up” from the high school level (where coaches have had their top athlete behind Center for years) to now the collegiate level where QB’s are continually getting more carries in pure designed runs, not scrambles. 


My team and I have been researching designated QB runs for the past six months. It’s clear why this concept is now trending again… especially in the new age of RPOs. 


In real-world, game situations, designated QB runs have tipped the advantage back to the offense:


  • Gaining a Numbers Advantage: The numbers advantage that the QB run game provides for the offense puts stress on the defense. All of this is based off the philosophy of spread offensive coaches like Rich Rodriquez and Urban Meyer who believed that if your QB is one of your best runners, you need to find ways to isolate him. 


  • Improving RPO Production: Designated QB runs eliminate the threat of man coverage due to the numbers advantage. Here’s what Dave Marsh, OC at Texas Southern told us… 


“People think man takes a lot of RPOs out of the equation, but you can’t play a lot of man against QB run teams because they will get you numbers-wise and you will have defenders turning and running away from where the quarterback is running the football.”


  • Increasing 3rd Down Conversions: Our research found that QB run teams have better 3rd (and 4th) down conversions because they are working from manageable situations—and that puts extra pressure on defenses when they are consistently defending 3rd and short. Sam Parker, OL coach at Ferris State told us…


“Part of our being good on third down is getting us in manageable situations. We would bait teams into playing man coverage on third down so we can beat them with the QB’s feet. We were masters in extending drives and not producing lot of three and outs.”


The Bottomline on Designated QB Runs


The NUMBERS ADVANTAGE… this is the loaded box solution.


And there is no better way to gain an advantage of numbers than implementing designated QB runs in your offensive menu. Gaining numbers with QB runs keeps drives alive, maintains possessions and is the solution to running the ball against loaded boxes. 


In most high school programs, the best athlete is the quarterback. So, why limit offensive production by using him purely to distribute the ball? It’s time to find ways to get the ball in his hands without having him take too many hits as he would in pure option football. Using your quarterback as a primary runner gives numbers back to your offense and could be a direct deterrent to man coverages that defenses are using to defend your RPOs. 


All that sounded pretty good to us back when we started researching this concept—and we think the concept is even better now that we’ve spent months watching film, interviewing coaches, and conducting our research.


That is why I am proud to announce that we have just released a brand-new study called, The Loaded Box Solution: Designed QB Runs and QB Driven RPOs, in our exclusive Insiders membership website.


X&O Labs’ The Loaded Box Solution: Designed QB Runs and QB Driven RPOs


When you join X&O Labs’ exclusive membership website, Insiders, you’ll get instant access to the full report detailing everything you need to improve, or even install, this ground-breaking QB runs and QB driven RPOs system in your program.


Our researchers spent considerable time with the following programs…

  • Ferris State University: finished 17th in 3rd down conversion percentage (.461)
  • Slippery Rock University: finished 23rd in 3rd down conversion percentage (.447)
  • Campbell University: finished in top 20 in 3rd down conversion percentage (.426)
  • South Dakota State University: finished in top 25 in 3rd down conversion percentage (.411)


Here’s a short list of what you’ll find in this brand-new special report…


Case 1: Double Option Concepts and The Evolution of the Inverted Run Series 

The initial inverted run concept was credited to Auburn University head coach Gus Malzahn and the success he accrued with former quarterback Cam Newton with his power read scheme. By definition an inverted run concept is a dual option read for the quarterback that combines an outside run element on a horizontal plain (such as a slot on jet sweep or in Auburn’s case an A back across the quarterback’s face) and an inside run element on a vertical plain (mainly a gap scheme) with the quarterback. In this case, we present our research on how coaches are designing these schemes with quarterback touches in mind. 


Case 2: Designed QB Runs from Advantageous Formations

In this case, we report on the various ways in which coaches are designing formations and blocking variations to make sure their quarterback carries the football. And despite what the film may look like with flash fakes, there are no reads on this scheme, which means the offense has to block ten defenders. The beauty in this presentation is we report how offenses are able to gain numbers on defenses by blocking with ten. Our research is segmented on how these formations and blocking adjustments alleviate the potential of extra run fitters without using option or RPO’s as an alternative. This is a no RPO zone.


Case 3: QB Generated RPOs

As the quarterback continues to be a focal point of an offenses’ run menus, it only becomes natural for defenses to find ways to reclaim the numbers game by committing more defenders to defend the run. This leaves offensive coordinators with two options: have the belief, and faith, that the quarterback can beat that one defender at the point of attack OR devise a run/pass option to manipulate that defender. Choosing the latter could elongate the possessions, and consequently, the health of the signal caller. Whatever option an offensive coordinator chooses… one thing is certain, a running quarterback has more direct impact on the passing game than any other player on the field. In this case, we are going to present our research on the run/pass options that coaches are devising off the quarterback runs in their offensive menu.


Case 4: Checked QB Runs from Overload Formations

The entire premise of the quarterback run game in this case is to take advantage of numbers. The benefit of overload formations is that it forces defenses to react in real time to formation structures they are not used to seeing. And when offensive coordinators couple these formation motions and shift it increases the potential of defenders being out-gapped at the snap and losing leverage on ball carriers. This all can result in big plays for the offense.


Bonus Case: Game Planning and Practice Organization to Prepare for QBR

While there are an exorbitant amount of schemes and concepts coaches can devise around running quarterbacks, in this case we present our research on how coaches are preparing players, both in practice and in game-planning, to carry the load each week.


Join the Insiders and Get Started with QB Runs and QB Driven RPOs!


When you join X&O Labs’ exclusive Insiders membership website, you’ll get instant access to our brand-new special report, The Loaded Box Solution: Designed QB Runs and QB Driven RPOs. Plus, you’ll also get full access to every report, video, drill and study we’ve ever published. Our Insiders website is without question, the largest research resource for football coaches in the world. No other resource comes close. 


And because we’re coaches just like you, we’ve made our membership prices affordable. Individual memberships are just $59.99 per year or you can register your entire coaching staff (up to 20 coaches) for the low price of $149.99 per year. 


Plus, your Insiders membership comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee. When you sign up today, try it for the next 90-days. If you don’t think your membership is worth the money you paid, just let us know within your first 90-days and we’ll refund 100% of your money. 


Best of all, when you join today, you will select a free book from our best-selling bookstore, and we’ll mail it directly to your home or office. BUT… if you register today with a STAFF MEMBERSHIP, you get 4 FREE books! That’s $160 in free books when you join with a Staff Membership.


Click the link below to start your registration. It only takes 3-minutes and you’ll have access to The Loaded Box Solution: Designed QB Runs and QB Driven RPOs and thousands of other videos, reports, drills, studies and diagrams to use this off-season!


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