Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
RPO Peek Corner runs out of Shotgun U Off Trips Wk with 12 personnel, giving the QB a run-pass conflict built off an inside handoff look with a corner route stacked behind an underneath flat/drag combo. The trips side shows a receiver breaking outside then curling back to the flat while another climbs vertically then cuts to a corner route up the sideline, and the single receiver to the closed side runs a short flat/quick out as a peek option. The primary read is the boundary corner route first if the RPO key (usually a linebacker or safety flowing to stop the run) bites down, then the QB works to the flat/peek route on the trips side if the corner is capped, with the run action as the checkdown when the box stays clean.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment over the trips side, a single high safety shaded toward the boundary corner route signals the QB will likely pull the ball to peek the flat instead. Post-snap, watch the second level defender assigned to the run key, if he sits and reads instead of flowing, the corner route window shrinks and the QB should check down to the flat or run action. User-controlled lurk defenders sitting in the intermediate flat can jump the peek route, so this play is vulnerable to a spy or robber technique that stays home on run action. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with corners playing outside leverage are the toughest matchups since the deep corner route has to fit a tight window against sideline help. Man coverage with linebackers in run-fit mode is the easiest matchup to exploit, since the corner route beats trail technique and the run action holds the underneath defenders.
Usage Tips
Read the second level defender the RPO is designed to key before the snap, if a linebacker cheats toward the line of scrimmage on run action, pull the corner route immediately for an explosive shot play.
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into showing run fits, since this play punishes teams that key run flow with their second level defenders.
Against zone shells with a deep half safety sitting on the corner route, hot route the peek flat receiver into a quick out or speed out to give the QB an easier answer underneath.
Pair this play with Inside Zone and HB Power from the same set so defenses have to respect the run first, making the corner route RPO hit even harder once linebackers start flowing downhill.
Best called on 2nd and short or 3rd and short to medium distance, since the run threat is live and defenses are more likely to stack the box, opening the corner window.
