Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Zone Alert Bubble out of Shotgun Bunch Open TE gives the quarterback a true give-or-throw read tied to the frontside linebacker flow. The offensive line runs inside zone blocking while the bunch releases a bubble screen concept to the flat, with the alert tag letting the QB flip the play based on the box count. This is a run-first RPO that beats light boxes and overaggressive linebacker triggers, and the primary read is the second level defender closest to the bubble alert, if he crashes downhill on the run fake, pull and throw the bubble immediately.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits at five yards or deeper the run lane is there, if he crashes hard the bubble is open Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, two high alignments often signal soft flat defenders that shut down the bubble quickly Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow flat or spying the bubble receiver, this is the biggest counter and forces the QB to keep it as a run Look for nano blitz packages or edge pressure off the bunch side, quick pressure disrupts the timing of the RPO read before the QB can process the box count Zone teams that widen a cornerback into the bubble lane pre-snap remove the numbers advantage, so recognize that rotation before the snap and lean back to the inside zone run
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap, if the defense has six or more in the box favor the bubble throw over the zone run
Use this on early downs like first and ten or second and short to keep the defense honest and build run-pass balance
Motion the bunch receiver pre-snap to confirm man versus zone, if a defender follows the motion man you have a numbers advantage on the bubble side
Pair this with RPO Alert Bubble and RPO Peek WR Screen in the same series so linebackers cannot key run fits without risking a screen behind them
Hot route the backside receiver on a quick out if you see a single high safety rotate late, giving you a third answer beyond the standard alert read
