Playbooks
Mtn RPO Peek Stick (standardspacing)
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn RPO Peek Stick is a run pass option out of Shotgun Split Slot Offset that pairs an inside run action with a stick concept to the play side, giving the quarterback a true peek read at the second level. The blocking scheme is a standard zone run track while the receivers run stick (a flat route, a slant or seat sitting underneath, and a corner or hitch working the boundary) to attack whichever second level defender crashes or widens. This is an RPO and a zone beater at its core since the QB is reading the flow of the linebacker or overhang defender: if that defender steps up on the run fake, pull and throw the stick combo, if he stays home in coverage, hand the ball off.
Defensive Reads
Watch the play side linebacker or slot defender at the snap, if he crashes down to fill the run gap that is your green light to pull and throw the stick concept immediately. Zone shells with a linebacker sitting in the hook to curl zone are the toughest matchup for the stick sit route, so be ready to check the flat route or hitch instead of forcing the sit route into a sinking defender. Man coverage with no safety help over the stick combo is where this play wins big, since the flat route or seam sitter can create instant separation against a trailing defender who has run responsibility. Watch for a user controlled defender spying the mesh point or sitting the peek read artificially deep, that is a sign the human opponent is baiting the throw, so trust the run track underneath if you see a defender hovering unnaturally. Fast, disguised blitzes from depth (a linebacker or safety firing off the edge post snap) can hit the running back before the RPO mesh completes, so if you see extra rushers timed to the snap consider pulling immediately and getting the ball out on the stick concept rather than committing to the run.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, count the box and identify whether the defense is showing a light box with only six or seven defenders, since that tells you the run read is live before the snap even happens.
Key the alignment of the overhang or slot defender across from the stick concept, if he is sitting at five yards or more of depth pre-snap that is a green light to expect the throw read post-snap.
Use motion if available to declare man versus zone, if the defender across the motion man runs with him it is man coverage and you should trust the stick sit route to work versus zone drops instead.
This play works best on early downs (first and second down) when defenses are still balancing run and pass responsibility, on third and short lean toward the run side of the RPO since defenses often widen out in nickel or dime looks.
Pair this call with Mtn RPO Peek Swing and Mtn RPO Peek Swing Wk in the same set so the defense cannot key on one flat or stick combo, then mix in RPO Zone Bubble to keep the second level defender guessing between run fits and flat throws.
