How to Set Up RPO Streaks Flats
Gun Deuce Close — RPO Read Fly Wheel. That's your bread and butter. Available in almost every playbook in CFB 26.
The base play is fine. You'll get some yards. But you're leaving money on the table if you're not hot routing these receivers.
Here's what makes this concept broken: flat routes on slot receivers. Hot route your slot guys to flats. Why? Because if you don't overthrow it — and you shouldn't — flats are incredibly hard to defend in RPOs.
Think about what actually stops a flat route. Man coverage or a hard flat defender. That's it. Even against man coverage, you're still picking up easy yards because the leverage is almost always in your favor.
The setup:
- Gun Deuce Close formation
- Call RPO Read Fly Wheel
- Hot route slot receivers to flat routes
- Keep outside receivers on streaks
Now you've got flats underneath and streaks over the top. The defense has to pick their poison.
When to Use RPO Streaks Flats
This concept works against almost everything. That's the beauty of it.
Against man coverage: Your flat routes have natural separation. Throw to leverage — pass lead inside if the defender is playing outside shade.
Against zone: Find the soft spots between levels. Flats attack the underneath zones while streaks stress the deep coverage.
Against cover zero: This is where it gets tricky. Cover zero can give you problems because they're bringing extra pressure and playing straight man with no help. But if you make your read fast enough, you can still hit the flat before the rush gets home.
Use this concept when:
- Defense is playing tight coverage on your outside receivers
- You need guaranteed short yardage
- Opponent is sending extra rushers
- You want to keep the defense guessing on run vs pass
Why This Concept Dominates
It's about forcing the defense's hand. They can't defend everything at once.
Look at what Gun Deuce Close gives you with these hot routes:
- Flat routes on both sides
- Streak routes in the middle
- Handoff option if they're playing the pass heavy
The defense has to make impossible choices. Cover the flats? You hit the streaks. Take away the deep stuff? Check down to the flats for easy gains.
And here's the kicker — you can do this out of every playbook. The formations might change, but the concept stays the same.
How to Execute Different Variations
Doubles Y Off Weak variation:
Use RPO Alert Stick or Return RPO Alert Stick. This play has built-in motion that sends a receiver to the flat automatically. But you can make it better.
Don't want that motion? Hot route:
- Put your underneath receiver on a flat manually
- Streak your slot receiver
Now you've got the same concept with different timing.
Advanced adjustments:
- Put outside receivers on drag routes instead of hitches for faster development
- Mix in different route combinations to keep the defense honest
- Use the handoff when they're playing pass coverage heavy
What Counters This Strategy
Cover zero blitz — straight man coverage with extra rushers. This can disrupt your timing because you're getting pressured fast and there's no help coverage to exploit.
When you see cover zero:
- Make your read faster
- Consider the handoff if they're bringing extra rushers
- Look for the hot route that develops quickest
Hard flat coverage — when the defense puts a defender in a hard flat zone specifically to take away your underneath routes. Less common, but it happens.
Counter by:
- Going to your streak routes over the top
- Using the run game to punish them for playing extra coverage
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Overthrowing flat routes. This is the big one. Flat routes are supposed to be easy completions. Don't try to thread them into tight windows — just get the ball to your receiver cleanly.
Not using the handoff option. Sometimes the defense is playing the pass heavy and the run is there. Don't force the throw if the box is light.
Making weird reads. Kenny mentions that RPOs sometimes give you strange throw animations or reads. Stay disciplined with your progression — quickest route first, work your way to slower developing options.
Staring down one route. You've got multiple options for a reason. If your first read isn't there, move to the next one quickly.
Not adjusting to what the defense shows you. If they're consistently taking away your flats, hit them with the streaks. If they're playing the deep stuff, check down underneath. Make them defend everything.
The bottom line: RPO Streaks Flats puts the defense in impossible situations. Use Gun Deuce Close as your base, hot route those slot receivers to flats, and watch the easy yards pile up.