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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
RPO Peek Slant lines up out of Shotgun Split Slot Open with 20 personnel, giving the QB a run-pass conflict read on the play side linebacker or slot defender. The backside receiver runs a deep dig/crossing route while the outside receiver on the run side runs a corner route to clear space, and the slot defender's route (yellow) breaks inside on a quick slant to the flat area vacated by the run action. The offensive line and HB execute an inside zone run look, and the QB's primary read is the peek at the slot slant defender: if that defender bites on the run fake, the QB pulls and throws the slant, otherwise he hands off or works the crossing route as the pass progression.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a nickel or slot corner who sits at depth and stays square to the slot receiver, since that alignment usually signals zone coverage and takes away the easy slant throw. Key the play side linebacker's first step after the snap. If he steps up hard to fill the run gap, the QB will immediately pull and throw the slant behind him. User the underneath zone defender in the slot area to sit on the slant route and force the QB to hold the ball or check down, which disrupts the timing of the RPO read. Blitzes from the play side edge or slot can beat this concept if the defense disguises pressure late, since the QB's peek read gets rushed before he can process the run-pass decision. Man coverage with inside leverage on the slot receiver takes away the slant window early, forcing the QB to trust the run or look to the backside crossing route instead.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify the alignment of the slot corner or nickel defender since a tight, aggressive alignment signals man coverage and a green light to throw the slant if he crashes down on the run fake.
Check the linebacker depth before the snap. Linebackers sitting shallow or creeping toward the box are keying run, which opens up the slant read and the deep dig behind them.
Use this play on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short to keep defenses honest, since the run action is credible and forces linebackers to respect the box.
If the defense shows two high safeties with soft corners, hot route the outside receiver into a quick out or stick to give the QB an extra zone beater option against off coverage.
Pair this play with Dbl Slant or RPO Zone Peek in the same set to keep the defense guessing between inside run reads and slant based RPOs, forcing linebackers to hesitate on every snap.
