Playbooks

RPO Zone Peek

Shotgun·Normal Y Off Wk·11

RPO Pass Play Run Play

Likely unavailable in the playbook builder

This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetNormal Y Off Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Franchise HS Spread OffenseOffense

Breakdown

RPO Zone Peek is a run-pass option out of Shotgun 11 personnel that gives the offensive line a zone blocking scheme up front while the QB reads the second level defender assigned to the peek route. The QB progression starts with the flow of the linebacker keying the zone run, and if that defender crashes downhill on the run action, the QB pulls and fires to the peek route in the vacated window. This play is best classified as an RPO zone beater since it punishes linebackers who bite on run fits, but it also holds up against light boxes when the defense sells run support over pass coverage.

Defensive Reads

Watch the play side linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits shallow expecting the zone run he becomes the exact defender the peek route is designed to exploit. Identify Mike linebacker or Sam linebacker flow direction post snap, aggressive downhill flow opens the peek throw immediately. This concept struggles against disciplined zone defenses that keep linebackers square and read through the mesh point rather than committing to run fits. Man coverage with an inside linebacker in coverage on the peek route is a tough matchup for the offense, so know your leverage before calling this against man heavy defenses. Watch for a spy or a delayed blitzer sitting in the peek route lane since a user controlled defender lurking there can jump the throw and turn it into a pick six.

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap, if the defense has six or more in the box the throw window is live before you even hand it off mentally. Use the peek route as your primary decision point, do not stare down the run fake, snap your eyes to the second level defender immediately after the mesh point. This play pairs well with Inside Zone and Mid Zone in your called sequence, since the run action looks identical and forces linebackers to respect the fake every time. Call this on early downs in normal personnel situations where defenses are likely to load the box against your zone run tendencies. If the defense shows a two high shell with light numbers in the box, consider running RPO Alert Bubble or RPO Zone Read Bubble instead since those attack space differently than the peek window here.