Playbooks

RPO Zone Peek

Shotgun·Spread·10
RPOPass PlayRun PlayInSlant

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 7 playbooks

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Breakdown

RPO Zone Peek out of Shotgun Spread 10 personnel gives the quarterback a true give or keep read tied to an inside zone blocking scheme up front. Post snap the QB peeks at the second level defender or overhang, if he crashes down on the run fit the QB pulls and throws the peek route (usually a slot or backside receiver working into a soft window), if that defender sits or widens the ball goes to the running back on the zone run. This is a run first RPO built to punish light boxes and undisciplined linebackers who bite on run action, functioning as a zone beater against defenses that key the mesh point.

Defensive Reads

Watch the play side linebacker depth pre-snap, if he is stacked tight to the box he is likely the peek key and will decide give or throw Look for safety rotation before the snap, a single high safety with the corner playing off leaves the peek window open for an easy pitch and catch User controlled defenders who sit at the mesh point and refuse to bite on the zone action will shut this play down, so do not force the peek throw against a disciplined user linebacker Cover 3 and Cover 1 shells with aggressive run fitting linebackers get exposed the most since those backers crash hard to stop the run and leave the peek route uncovered Against Cover 4 or Cover 2 with two deep safeties the peek throw is often not there, live in the run game instead and set up later peek RPOs once the defense commits to stopping outside runs

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap, if you count six or fewer defenders in the box this is a green light to just hand it off on the zone run

Identify the peek defender pre-snap, usually the second level backer or slot defender over the peek route, and watch his first step after the snap rather than guessing

Use the manual RPO throw button read if your version of Madden supports it so you control the give versus throw decision instead of relying on the CPU logic

This play hits best on early downs (first and second and short to medium) when defenses are more likely to sit in base run fits instead of loading up on pass coverage

Pair this with RPO Peek Slant and RPO Alert Bubble in your play calling sequence so the defense cannot key on one RPO shell without opening up the others

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