Playbooks

Bubble Screen

I Form·Slot·21

Screen Pass Bubble Screen Pass Play

Likely unavailable in the playbook builder

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

Franchise College Pro OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Bubble Screen out of I Form Slot is a quick-hitting screen pass designed to get the ball to the slot receiver in space before the defense can react. The outside receiver on the screen side stalk blocks or arc releases to clear a lane while the offensive line sets up a pocket to protect against interior pressure. This is a zone beater at its core, since it attacks off coverage and soft cushion zones where underneath defenders bail at the snap, and the primary read is simply getting the ball out immediately to the bubble receiver rather than progressing through a route tree.

Defensive Reads

Check the slot cornerback depth pre-snap, if he is playing soft off coverage or bailing into a zone drop this play has a clean lane Watch for a nickel or sam linebacker sitting flat footed near the line of scrimmage since he can be a lurk threat who jumps the bubble route Identify Cover 2 or Cover 3 shells where the corner is responsible for deep third or deep half, this gives the blocker a clean angle to work the alley Man press coverage with the corner squatting on the slot receiver shuts this down immediately since there is no room to build the screen Watch the defensive line for scrape exchange or contain rush toward the bubble side, fast flow defenders can blow this up before blockers get set

Usage Tips

Call this against defenses showing soft zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 where corners are backpedaling off the slot at the snap

Use it on early downs or after a big play to slow down an aggressive pass rush and force the defense to respect the perimeter

Hot route the backside receiver into a quick drag or slant if you expect the user to jump the bubble with a lurking linebacker

Pair this with HB Stretch Alert Bubble and HB Stretch Alert Bubble KO in the same set so the bubble alert keeps defenses honest and forces them to declare their coverage shell pre-snap

Avoid calling this into aggressive man press coverage since the lack of initial separation lets a user-controlled corner sit on the throw