Playbooks
Breakdown
RPO Alert Bubble out of Shotgun Bunch TE gives the QB a run/pass alert read tied directly to the play side defender. The diagram shows the offensive line and TE blocking down for an inside run scheme while the bunch alignment kicks out a bubble screen to the flat, with the outside receiver stemming vertical to hold the corner. This is a true RPO built to attack light boxes and overaggressive flow defenders, and the primary read is the alert defender at the second level: if he crashes down on the run action, pull and throw the bubble, if he sits or widens, hand it off.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a slot corner or overhang defender sitting flat outside the bunch, that alignment signals they are prepared to jump the bubble throw Pre-snap, check safety depth: two high shells with soft corners tell you the run alert is live because the flat defender may be late rotating Post-snap, if the play side linebacker crashes hard downhill on run fits, the bubble is wide open behind him User-controlled defenders sitting on the bubble route or lurking underneath will shut this down fast, so have your run fit as the true answer against aggressive user play Blitz packages that bring extra defenders off the edge can outnumber the run side, so recognize overload fronts and take the bubble instead of forcing the hand off
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap, if there are six or fewer defenders in the box this is a green light to run it
Key the alert defender, usually the play side linebacker or slot corner, and let his first step decide your read
Use this on early downs (1st and 2nd) when defenses are still guessing run or pass out of Bunch TE
Pair this with Bunch Levels or Mtn Spacing from the same set so the defense sees the identical bunch look before you hit them with the run action
Hot route the vertical receiver to a hitch against soft press to give yourself a second answer if the bubble is capped by a flat defender
