What it is

A run-pass option, or RPO, is a play where the quarterback chooses between a run and a quick pass after the snap, depending on what a certain defender does.

In a game

The line blocks as if it were a run, and the receivers run short routes. The quarterback watches a linebacker or safety: if he steps up to stop the run, he throws, and if he drops back, the quarterback hands off.

More detail

Rules limit how far the linemen may go downfield on these plays, so the throw has to come quickly. The idea puts a defender in a no-win situation, and RPOs have become a regular part of offenses at every level.