Playbooks

26 Duo Alert Bubble

I Form·Slot·21

Duo Run Play Power Run

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationI Form

SetSlot

Personnel

212 RB · 1 TE · 2 WR

In 1 playbook

MUT KO RPO OffenseOffense

Breakdown

26 Duo Alert Bubble is a power run play out of I Form Slot with 21 personnel that pairs a Duo blocking scheme with an alert audible to a bubble screen. The base run uses double team blocks at the point of attack designed to climb to the second level, letting the HB press the hole and cut off the linebacker flow, while the FB leads through for an extra blocker on early down runs. If the defense shows a stacked box or overplays run support to the slot, the QB can alert to the bubble screen as a built in answer against aggressive man or blitz looks. The primary read progression starts pre-snap with the box count and slot defender depth, then post-snap the QB decides between handing off the Duo run or pulling it to throw the bubble based on how fast the slot corner or nickel closes down.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify the box count and check if the defense has rotated a safety down into the box, which signals a run blitz that the bubble alert can punish. Watch the slot cornerback or nickel defender's alignment, if he is playing off and soft you have an easy bubble throw, if he is pressed in man you should stay with the run. Post-snap, key the play side linebacker's first step, if he immediately fills the Duo run lane the bubble screen becomes the better outlet since the alert receiver is now uncovered. Beware defenses in zone shells with a hard flat defender sitting on bubble routes, this eliminates the alert and forces you to trust the Duo blocking up front. Watch for user controlled defenders spying the bubble receiver or crashing down as a lurk threat, since a smart user can bait the QB into the alert throw and jump the route for a turnover.

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap and count defenders in the box versus your blockers to decide if the run or the bubble alert is the better call.

If the slot corner or nickel is playing tight man coverage on the bubble receiver, stick with the Duo run since that defender is essentially removed from run support.

Use the bubble alert against teams that bring extra defenders into the box on early downs, since it punishes overcommitted run fits with a quick, low risk throw.

Run this on second and short or first and ten to keep the defense honest, then follow it up with HB Power O or HB Counter later in the series once the defense starts cheating toward the Duo blocking scheme.

Pair this play with Jet Sweep or HB Toss in your play calling sequence to stress the same alert concept from different angles and keep linebackers guessing on flow direction.