Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Zone Read Bubble pairs an inside zone run with a bubble screen read on the perimeter, giving the quarterback a pre-snap and post-snap decision based on the alignment of the flat defender or slot cornerback. If the defender assigned to the bubble receiver stays inside or crashes down on the run fit, the QB pulls and throws the bubble for a numbers advantage. If that defender sits wide to take away the bubble, the QB hands off into the zone run scheme up front. This is a true RPO built to punish light boxes and undisciplined flat defenders, functioning as both a run play and a zone beater on the perimeter.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat or slot defender assigned to the bubble receiver immediately after the snap since his leverage determines whether the QB throws or hands off. Watch linebacker depth before the snap. Linebackers cheating up close to the line signal an aggressive run fit that the offense will exploit with the bubble read. Cover 3 with a hard-charging corner to the bubble side gets exploited quickly since that corner cannot both play run support and cover the screen. User-controlled lurk defenders sitting in the shallow zone can jump the bubble throw, so respect that threat and be ready to trust the zone run instead of forcing a bad read. Man coverage with off-corner alignment and safety help over the top tends to shut this down since the defense can both play the run honestly and still recover to the bubble.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap. If the defense has six or more in the box, lean toward pulling the ball for the bubble instead of forcing the zone run into a stacked front.
Identify the flat defender assigned to the bubble receiver. If he sits at depth or widens pre-snap, that is your green light to hand it off since the numbers are already in your favor on the ground.
Use the bubble as a answer against Cover 3 and Cover 1 shells where the corner or slot defender has to choose between run support and the flat throw.
Sequence this play with RPO Zone Alert Bubble and RPO Zone Peek to keep defenders guessing on whether the peek, alert, or straight bubble read is coming out of the same run action.
Best used on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and short to medium) where defenses are more likely to sell out against the run and open up the bubble throw.
