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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
RPO Alert Bubble out of Pistol Trips Left Open is a run pass option built around a single read for the quarterback. The backside outside receiver runs a quick out and up (shown breaking outside then working vertically) as the run pass conflict read, while the running back mesh point action gives you a give or handoff option in the box (yellow arrow shows the run action attacking the interior). This is a light box beater: the QB reads the alley or overhang defender near the trips side and either pulls the ball for the bubble/RPO throw or hands it off if numbers favor the run.
Defensive Reads
Watch the alignment of the overhang defender or slot corner to the trips side before the snap, since his depth tells you if the bubble throw will be there. If the linebacker responsible for the run fit widens out of his gap to cover bubble, that is your cue to hand the ball off into the vacated interior lane. Man coverage with press corners on the outside receiver's out and up route can be exploited if the safety over the top bites on run action. Zone coverage that keeps the flat defender squatting on the bubble threat takes away the quick throw, so be ready to run the ball into a light box instead. A fast scraping linebacker or blitzing nickel defender who ignores the bubble entirely and attacks downhill can blow up both the run and the RPO read, so have a hot route or sight adjustment ready against aggressive run blitzes.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap since RPO Alert Bubble is designed to punish light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the run fit.
Identify the alert defender, usually the overhang or flat defender to the trips side, because his run/pass conflict determines whether you pull or hand off.
Use this on early downs (first and ten or second and short) to stay ahead of the sticks while keeping the defense honest against both run and pass.
Pair this with straight HB Dive or Close HB Dive later in a series so the defense has to respect the interior run fit every time you show this backfield action.
If the defense starts crashing the alert defender hard every snap, counter with RPO Read Bubble or Read Option from the same look since the pre-snap picture is nearly identical.
