Playbooks

RPO Zone Read Bubble

Shotgun·Doubles HB Wk·11
RPOPass PlayRun Play

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 7 playbooks

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Breakdown

RPO Zone Read Bubble is a true run pass option out of Shotgun Doubles HB Wk that pairs an inside zone run scheme with a bubble screen read to the slot receiver. The quarterback reads the alignment and depth of the flat defender or overhang linebacker to decide whether to hand off the zone run or pull and throw the bubble to the flat. This is a zone beater at its core since it punishes light boxes and defenders who crash down on the run fit, giving you a built in numbers advantage against zone coverage and off man alignments on the perimeter.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify single high shells like Cover 3 or Cover 1 since these often leave the flat defender isolated and vulnerable to the bubble read. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they crash hard downhill on the run fit without respecting the slot receiver, the bubble throw is the automatic answer. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with a dedicated flat defender sitting on the bubble route are the best counters, since the underneath defender can play both the run and the screen with proper discipline. Look for a user controlled linebacker sprinting outside the tackle box immediately after the snap, this is a clear tell that they are jumping the RPO read and abandoning the run fit. Overloaded fronts or crashing edge defenders on the play side can blow up the zone run portion, so respect blitz packages that bring extra defenders into the box.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, count the box defenders and check if the slot corner or overhang linebacker is sitting inside or squatting outside, since that alignment tells you whether the bubble or the zone run is the better math play.

Use your hot route to adjust the bubble receiver's depth if you are facing aggressive press corners, giving your ball carrier more room to work after the catch.

This play shines on early downs in normal or nickel personnel when the defense shows a light box, so call it on first and second down to keep defenses honest and set up explosive plays later in the drive.

Pair this with RPO Zone Alert Bubble and RPO Zone Peek in the same series so the defense cannot key on the flat read alone, forcing linebackers to hesitate on both the run fit and the bubble throw.

Against user controlled defenders who jump the bubble every snap, fake the throw motion and stick with the zone handoff to punish their aggression.

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