Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
RPO Zone Peek Pop is a run-pass option out of Shotgun Trey Y-Flex Str that pairs an inside zone run with a peek slant/pop combo behind it, giving the quarterback a true give-or-throw decision based on second level defender leverage. The pop route works as a quick vertical stem that settles for a high percentage window over the middle, while the peek slant attacks any linebacker who steps up on the run action. Your primary read is the box count and the flow of the second level defenders: if the linebackers crash down to fill run gaps, pull the ball and hit the pop or peek slant behind them, and if they sit or bail into coverage, hand it off to the zone run.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the safety alignment, if both safeties are deep with two high shells the underneath window for the pop route is naturally larger since there is less immediate help over the top. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they crash hard to defend the zone run the peek slant and pop route both have easy throwing lanes behind them. Against man coverage look for the peek slant to win quickly against a linebacker in man since the route breaks before he can recover, this is the primary man beater element of the play. Zone shells with a sitting middle linebacker in a hook or curl zone can shut down the pop route, so be ready to check the peek slant or take the handoff if that defender does not bite on run action. Be alert for a user controlled linebacker spying the quarterback or sitting the pop window, since a smart defender who reads RPO tendencies can jump the throw if you telegraph the pass read too early.
Usage Tips
Check the defensive front pre-snap and count the box, if you see six or more defenders in the box favor the pass side of the RPO instead of forcing the handoff.
Use the pop route as your primary key read since it settles quickly and beats both man and zone shells if the middle linebacker widens with run flow.
Hot route the peek slant into a quicker breaking route against man heavy looks if you are getting jumped by an aggressive nickel or linebacker blitzing off the edge.
This play is best on early downs in the 1st and 2nd and short to medium range since it keeps both run and pass options live and forces the defense to respect the zone action.
Pair this with RPO Zone Peek and RPO Peek Slant from the same set so the defense cannot sit on the peek read, then mix in Inside Zone as a base run to keep second level defenders honest.
