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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
RPO Peek Slant is a run-pass option out of Shotgun Spread Dbl Flex that pairs an inside zone run look with a two-man slant read to the field side. The outside receiver runs a slant to the flat area while the slot receiver crosses underneath on a shallow slant to the middle, giving the QB a horizontal stretch read on the second level defender. The RB releases on a check route out of the backfield as the peek option, so the QB's primary progression is run key first, then peek to the slot slant, and finally the boundary slant if the alley is clogged. This concept is built to attack light boxes and beats zone coverage that sucks linebackers up on the run fake.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebacker depth pre-snap, stacked linebackers close to the line signal run blitz and you should get the ball out on the slant fast. Check the corner alignment on the flex receivers, soft outside leverage means the slant window is tight and you should peek the underneath slot route instead. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender flowing hard toward the mesh point, that lurk threat is jumping the slant read and you need to reset to the boundary route. Identify single high safety shells, this concept struggles against a rolled down safety sitting in the peek slant window since it clogs the middle read. Look for a cover 2 shell with corners playing zone, the flat defender squeezing down opens the slant behind him for a chunk gain.
Usage Tips
Read the box count before the snap, if you see six or fewer defenders in the box, let the run trigger and take the handoff.
Key the play side linebacker after the snap, if he steps up on the run fake, throw the slot slant immediately behind him for an easy conversion.
Use this play on early downs in second and short or first and ten to stay ahead of the chains without exposing you to a predictable dropback pass.
Motion the flex slot receiver pre-snap to identify man versus zone, if the defender follows across the formation you have a man beater with the slant.
Pair this with Read Option and Inside Zone from the same set so the defense has to respect the run fake every time you come to the line in Spread Dbl Flex.
