RPOs in Football That Win — Not RPOs That Look Good on Paper
When Matt Drinkall teaches RPOs in football, he always begins with one essential reminder for coaches:
“The way you execute something is always better than the scheme itself.”
Having coached RPOs in football at multiple levels, he deeply understands both the advantages and potential pitfalls. The danger isn’t that RPOs in football are inherently complicated; rather, it lies in coaches adding too much complexity. Every new tag, option, or “cool” idea increases the risk that quarterbacks become throw-happy instead of remaining efficient.
Each spring, Drinkall tells his quarterbacks: if you give a shooter the green light, he’ll find himself open every time.
Quarterbacks function similarly.
That insight is why his RPOs in football system relies on a simple framework: do what you’re good at, create rules that travel, and run only what you can effectively teach.
Shorter. Faster. Simpler.
To ensure clarity, Drinkall uses a filter he calls “SFS — Shorter, Faster, Simpler.”
Every concept in RPOs in football must be:
- Shorter in verbiage and process
- Faster for the quarterback to diagnose
- Simpler for all 11 players to execute
According to Drinkall, “There’s not an offense in the country that does Shorter, Faster, Simpler and doesn’t score points.”
He warns coaches against the temptation to “run everything.” With so many great concepts available, trying to install them all inevitably slows players down. Instead, he urges coaches to build their RPOs in football packages based on what they already major in: core runs, personnel groups, and base formations.
In this way, an RPOs in football package maintains its structure instead of becoming a cluttered call sheet.
Why RPOs in Football Are So Effective
When taught well, RPOs in football change the math and manipulate defenders with minimal downside:
- They hide split tendencies
- They pull defenders out of the box
- They disrupt run fits
- They allow “bad blockers” to make elite blocks simply by running off defenders
- The quarterback’s read is often pre-snap
- The worst-case result is usually zero yards, not a turnover
- And it’s the best play action in football because it looks exactly like the run
For example, a 170-pound slot receiver who isn’t a great blocker can pull a safety 15 yards out of the run fit. That, Drinkall says, is the best block available.
He frequently shows clip after clip of safeties being removed from the alley by simple bubble or glance tags. No block is needed—just smart distribution.
Let Your Players Do What They Do Well
Rather than chasing labels, Drinkall challenges offensive coaches to trust the process. If a run is called and the quarterback throws, it doesn’t mean you’ve “abandoned the run.” Instead, you created the look you wanted and distributed the ball where the numbers and angles were most favorable.
He jokes about a classic old-school complaint:
You score 47 points, gain 480 yards, and yet someone panics because the rushing total was only 165.
“If the O-line is actually blocking a run, count it. Who cares where the ball goes? What’s the best way to use your 11 guys?”
Adopting this mindset frees the offense to make decisions based on advantage rather than pride.
What to Avoid: QB Drift and System Overload
The biggest pitfalls in RPOs in football include:
- Quarterbacks thinking every tag means “throw it”
- Over-tagging concepts that don’t need an attached read
- Taking too many downfield shots in situations built for efficiency
- Installing more than the staff can teach cleanly
Drinkall emphasizes that a bad run often gains 2–3 yards, and an incomplete RPO in football nets zero. When quarterbacks start chasing throws instead of distributing the ball, the entire system weakens.
He warns, “The more options you give a quarterback, the more he thinks that’s what you want him to do.”
Packaging RPOs into Your Entire Offense
Drinkall insists you can apply the RPOs in football structure from any personnel, formation, or rhythm and tempo—as long as the rules remain clean.
Shifts, motions, bunch sets, wide sets—all can carry your RPOs in football rules because defenders still must fit the run, cap the throw, and declare leverage somewhere. The key ingredient is consistency.
He points to Alabama as the gold standard:
“Nobody blends pre-snap movement and misdirection better. Everyone talks about the players; the players help, but the structure is elite.”
Drinkall’s offensive DNA mirrors this idea by blending the best of pro-style and college football into a system that creates misdirection, matchup control, and easy reads.
Key Takeaway
RPOs in football aren’t about volume or complexity. They’re about clarity.
Define what you believe. Teach what you can rep. Build in only what your players execute with confidence.
“Let your players do what they do well. Let the linemen block. Let the skill kids catch and run. Distribute the ball to the people who are good with the ball.”
About Matt Drinkall — Head Coach, Central Michigan University
Matt Drinkall is the Head Coach at Central Michigan and one of football’s clearest teachers of RPOs in football offensive structure. A former Army and Kansas assistant, he’s widely known for his “Shorter, Faster, Simpler” approach that simplifies execution and maximizes player strengths.
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Running Game and Tempo – Matt Drinkall, TE Coach, Army
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