Playbooks
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
RPO Peek Slant lines up in Shotgun Trey Y-Flex Str with 11 personnel, giving the offense a run/pass conflict built off inside zone action. The backside receiver runs a slant into the vacated area while the outside receiver to the trips side pushes an out breaking route and the flexed tight end works an inward pivot underneath, giving the quarterback a run key on the linebacker level to peek before deciding whether to hand off or throw the slant. This is an RPO designed as a light box or blitz beater, with the primary read progression going run key first, slant second, and the boundary out route as a late arm punch if the defense sits hard inside.
Defensive Reads
Watch the alignment of the play side linebacker before the snap, if he is stacked tight to the box the offense is baiting him to bite on run action for the slant throw. Post snap, user your play side linebacker and sink him under the slant window instead of flowing hard with run fits, this takes away the primary RPO read. Man coverage on the slant defender is vulnerable if he opens his hips late, so press corners with inside leverage shut this concept down quickly. Zone shells with a linebacker sitting in the shallow hook area clog the slant throwing lane and force the quarterback to hand off into a light box. Watch for the tight end pivot route underneath, if that defender jumps outside too fast the quarterback can hit the pivot for an easy checkdown against soft zone coverage.
Usage Tips
Presnap, count the box defenders and check if the defense has removed a hat to cover the trips side, that numbers advantage tells you whether to keep the ball on the ground or trust the slant window.
Key the play side linebacker after the snap, if he crashes downhill on the zone action the slant throw behind him is nearly automatic.
Use this in early down and manageable distance situations where defenses are still respecting run tendencies, since the RPO conflict is most effective before third and long.
Pair this call with straight Inside Zone or Outside Zone from the same set so the defense cannot sit on the pass key and has to respect the run fake every time.
Sequence RPO Peek Slant with RPO Zone Peek Pop later in a drive, the similar backfield action but different route concept off the slant window keeps second level defenders honest and creates explosive play opportunities.
