Playbooks

RPO Zone Alert Bubble

Shotgun·Ace Slot Offset·12

RPO Pass Play Run Play

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetAce Slot Offset

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 6 playbooks

Henry Special Patriots OffenseOffense Raiders OffenseOffense Shotgun Mix NFL Live Patriots OffenseOffense NFL Live Raiders OffenseOffense

Breakdown

RPO Zone Alert Bubble out of Shotgun Ace Slot Offset gives you a true run pass option, reading the alley or slot defender to decide between an inside zone handoff and a bubble screen to the slot receiver. The offensive line executes a standard zone blocking scheme, working double teams up to the second level while the quarterback keys the flat defender or nearest linebacker to the bubble side. Your primary read progression is defender leverage first: if that key defender crashes down on the run action, pull and throw the bubble immediately, and if he sits or bails to cover the bubble, hand it off into the vacated running lane.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flat or overhang defender assigned to the bubble side immediately after the snap since his first step tells you run or pass. Man coverage with the corner pressed on the slot receiver is a green light to keep the ball on the ground since the bubble throw has no room to develop. Zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with a defender sitting underneath the bubble are a signal to trust the run fit and let your line work the zone scheme. Be wary of user controlled linebackers spying the bubble lane or defenders showing blitz off the edge, since a fast defensive end crashing hard can blow up the handoff before the mesh point resets. Nano blitzes or overload fronts that outnumber the box can still be checked by simply pulling the trigger on the bubble immediately without waiting on the read.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing an odd or even front and note the alignment of the slot corner or overhang defender since that is your automatic key. Use this play on early downs (first and ten or second and short) so the defense has to respect the run threat and cannot sell out on the bubble. If the defense shows heavy zone with a defender sitting flat footed over the bubble receiver, consider hot routing the backside receiver into a quick out to give yourself a second option against user reads. Pair this call with straight Inside Zone or HB Punch earlier in a series so defenders start biting on run fits, then dial up RPO Zone Alert Bubble to punish overaggressive linebackers flowing to the line. Against user controlled defenders who jump the bubble every snap, fake the pitch by holding the ball a beat longer and let the zone run hit behind the second level flow.