Playbooks

RPO Zone Peek Pop

Shotgun·Trey Y-Flex Str·11
RPOPass PlayRun Play

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Balanced OffenseOffense

Breakdown

RPO Zone Peek Pop is a run-pass option out of Shotgun Trey Y-Flex Str that pairs an inside zone run scheme with a quick pop pass read to the peek route, typically the tight end sitting in the window vacated by a crashing linebacker. The quarterback reads the second level defender: if the linebacker steps up to fill the run fit, pull and hit the pop route in the vacated zone, and if the linebacker stays home in coverage, hand the ball off or pull to run the zone read yourself. This is a zone beater built to punish light boxes and aggressive run fits, with the primary progression being box count first, then the peek defender's reaction at the snap.

Defensive Reads

Watch the play side linebacker at the snap since his first step tells you whether he is filling the run gap or sitting to cover the pop route Look for defenses running a nano blitz off the edge which can beat this play before the quarterback ever gets through his read Man coverage with linebackers locked onto the tight end shuts down the pop throw so scheme fit for man teams is to blitz or press the peek defender immediately Zone defenses that walk a safety down into the box to spy the RPO reduce the effective run lanes and force the quarterback to speed up his decision User controlled defenders sitting in the shallow zone or lurking near the peek route's landing spot are the biggest threat, so if you see a human player hovering that area at the snap, take the run instead

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap and if you count six or fewer defenders in the box, lean toward keeping the RPO alive as a run threat first

Identify single high versus two high shells presnap since single high safeties tend to sit deep and leave the peek window open underneath for the pop throw

Use the hot route to adjust the peek route depth if you are facing a defense that consistently drops a linebacker straight into that throwing lane

Save this play for early down and manageable distance situations like first and ten or second and short where defenses are more likely to load the box for run support

Pair this with RPO Peek Slant and RPO Zone Peek from the same set so the defense cannot key on one specific RPO tag, forcing linebackers to hesitate on every snap

Other Plays in Trey Y-Flex Str