Playbooks
RPO Power Peek pairs a Power run scheme with a run-pass option read to attack light boxes out of Shotgun Wide Y Trips WK. The offensive line pulls the backside guard for Power blocking while the quarterback reads the flow of a second level defender to decide between the handoff and a quick throw off run action. This is an RPO by design, giving you a run beater against heavy boxes and a light coverage beater when the defense sells run, with the primary read being the alignment and crash of the read defender, typically the play side linebacker or flowing safety.
Watch the play side linebacker depth before the snap, if he is sitting shallow in the box he is likely the run fit defender you need to read for the RPO throw. Man coverage on the peek receiver with no underneath help is the green light to throw immediately off the snap since Power blocking cannot hold up long against extra blitzers. A crashing defensive end or edge defender who ignores the pull blocker signals a run blitz, which favors quickly pulling the ball for the pass option rather than handing off into a bad box. Zone shells with a flowing safety to the play side can shut down both the run lane and the peek route, so check for two-high safety rotation post snap before committing to either option. Nano blitzes or overload pressure to the play side often bait the quarterback into a rushed handoff, so recognize a blitzing linebacker crashing downhill immediately and get rid of the ball on the peek route instead of eating a loss.
Check the box count before the snap and if you see six or more defenders stacked near the line, lean toward the pass side of the RPO instead of forcing the run.
Identify your key defender immediately after the snap, usually the second level player closest to the point of attack, and let his first step decide your read.
Use hot routes sparingly on the peek receiver if you need a hitch or slant conversion against man coverage, since a clean release beats off man defenders trying to jump the run fake.
This play works best on early downs, second and short or third and short, where defenses are more likely to load the box and give up the peek throw.
Pair this with Buck Sweep and Inside Zone from the same set so defenses cannot key on the pulling guard action, then mix in Curls or Stick to keep linebackers honest in zone drops.