Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Zone Peek out of Shotgun Trey Open HB Str is a true run pass option built off inside zone blocking with a peek route mixed into the concept to give the quarterback a downfield answer if the numbers box up against the run. The offensive line and HB execute the zone scheme while a receiver releases vertically on the peek route, giving the QB a pre-snap and post-snap decision based on the second level defender count. This play is a zone beater at its core, punishing light boxes and off man leverage by attacking the alley the peek route opens up, with the primary read progression being box count first, then peek route window, then hand off to the zone run if neither is favorable.
Defensive Reads
Watch the box count before the snap, a 6 man box favors the run hand off while a stacked 7 or 8 man box should push the QB to look at the peek route immediately Identify single high versus two high safety shells, since single high alignments often leave the peek window open against man leverage corners Track the flow of the near side linebacker after the snap, if he crashes hard on run action the peek lane opens up behind him for an easy access throw Look for user controlled defenders sitting in the peek window or spying the RPO key, this is the most common way defenses shut this play down at the user level Respect delayed blitzes and zone pressure looks, since a late arriving rusher can disrupt the mesh point and force a bad decision if the QB reads run too late
Usage Tips
Count the box pre-snap before the snap and identify if the defense is in a 6 or 7 man front, since anything lighter should trigger an automatic give read to the HB
Key the alignment of the peek route defender, if a linebacker or safety is sitting shallow with no help over the top, pull the ball and throw off the RPO key immediately
Use this play on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short to keep defenses honest and force them to respect both the run and the RPO shot
Pair this with RPO Zone Alert Smoke and RPO Zone Peek Bubble in the same set to keep the defense guessing between peek, smoke, and bubble reads off the identical zone action
Avoid throwing into disguised zone blitzes where the peek defender is replaced late, since the window can close fast if the second level flows hard and squeezes the throwing lane
