Playbooks

RPO Zone Slant Peek

Shotgun·Wing Slot Wk·12
RPOSlantPass PlayRun Play

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 5 playbooks

Eagles OffenseOffenseSuperstar HB AgileSuperstar HB BruiserSuperstar HB ReceivingNFL Live Eagles OffenseOffense

Breakdown

RPO Zone Slant Peek pairs an inside zone run scheme with a slant and peek route package on the backside, giving the QB a true run pass conflict read on a second level defender. The offensive line executes zone blocking to the play side while the QB keys the alert defender (usually the WLB or a flowing safety) to decide between handing off or pulling and throwing the quick slant. This is a run heavy RPO built to punish teams that crash their linebackers down on zone action, and the primary read progression is run key first, slant second, peek route as the checkdown if the slant window closes.

Defensive Reads

Watch the alert linebacker at the snap since his reaction to zone flow determines whether the QB hands off or throws the slant. Man coverage on the slot receiver with the corner playing inside leverage is a green light to pull and throw since the slant window opens fast against man technique. Zone coverage with a linebacker sitting in the passing lane or a nickel defender reading eyes into the backfield can jump the slant, so be ready to reset to the peek route as the answer. A single high safety rotating down hard into the box signals run support overload, which favors throwing rather than handing the ball off. If the defense shows Cover 3 with the cornerback playing off and deep, the slant will be there quickly before the underneath defenders can close, so speed of decision matters more than reading the entire shell.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify the alignment of the alert linebacker before the snap since his run fit dictates the entire read for this RPO. If the defense shows a two high shell with light box counts, lean toward giving the ball on the zone run since numbers favor the offense. If you see a single high safety with stacked linebackers, get ready to pull and throw the slant quickly before the flowing defender can undercut it. Use the peek route as a built in answer against teams that key hard on the slant with a slot corner or nickel defender sitting underneath. Sequence this play after running Inside Zone or Orbit Outside Zone a few times so linebackers start biting on run action, then hit them with the slant for an explosive gain. Combine this play with RPO Zone Peek and RPO Zone Read Bubble in the same drive to keep second level defenders guessing between slant, peek, and bubble reads out of the same zone action.

Other Plays in Wing Slot Wk