Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Zone Alert Bubble out of Pistol Trips Left Open pairs an inside zone run with a bubble screen alert to the trips side, giving the quarterback a pre-programmed run/pass read based on the alignment of the flat defender or overhang. This is a true RPO built to punish light boxes and aggressive zone corners who crash on run action, with the offensive line executing zone blocking regardless of the quarterback's decision. The primary read progression starts pre-snap by counting the box, then post-snap the quarterback keys the alert defender: if he sits inside or flows hard to the run fit, pull and throw the bubble to the trips side; if he stays wide to take away the bubble, hand off into the zone run.
Defensive Reads
Watch pre-snap safety depth, two-high shells with soft corners invite the run since the alert defender is more likely to sit and play run first. Identify the trips-side flat defender's leverage before the snap, if he is aligned tight to the box he is vulnerable to the bubble, if he is widened out he is taking that away and daring you to run. Post-snap, track linebacker flow and depth on the zone run, fast-flowing linebackers who crash downhill open up cutback lanes but also get gashed if the quarterback pulls it. User-controlled defenders sitting in a lurk position near the bubble concept can jump the throw, if you see a user spy or robber cheating toward trips, take the zone handoff instead. Blitz packages that send extra defenders off the edge to the trips side can beat the blocking scheme, if you see overload pressure pre-snap consider hot routing the alert or checking to a different play in the set.
Usage Tips
Count defenders in the box pre-snap and use this as your first alert, six or fewer in the box favors keeping it on the ground while seven or more should push you toward the bubble throw.
Identify the flat or overhang defender to the trips side before the snap since he is the entire read, if he is a linebacker with no clear widened alignment you likely have a bubble throw waiting.
Use the hot route to adjust the outside receiver on a fade or streak against man coverage to remove a defender from the alert read and create explosive play potential over the top.
This play hits best on early downs (first and ten, second and short to medium) when defenses are still respecting the run, mix it with HB Dive and Read Option from the same set to keep linebackers honest and slow their flow to the bubble.
Sequence this with RPO Read Bubble and RPO Alert Bubble in the same set so the defense cannot key on alignment tips, forcing them to defend both the give and the bubble equally on every snap.
