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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
RPO Alert Bubble is a run pass option out of Shotgun Doubles Offset Wk that pairs an inside zone handoff read with a bubble screen to the offset receiver. The diagram shows the offensive line blocking down for the run while the running back crosses the formation on the zone path, and the backside slot receiver runs a quick bubble route out to the flat as the outside receiver stays vertical to hold the corner. The quarterback keys the alert defender: if that defender crashes down on the run, pull and throw the bubble, and if he stays wide to cover the bubble, hand the ball off on inside zone.
Defensive Reads
Watch the slot corner or overhang defender pre-snap, since his depth tells you whether he is sitting on the bubble or cheating into the run fit. If the linebacker level crashes hard on the mesh point, the bubble should be open in space, so sim the defensive AI by mixing run and pass calls from this look. Man coverage on the backside slot receiver, especially press or inside shade, shuts down the bubble quickly, so expect the offense to hand it off in that shell. A two-high safety shell with soft corners over the bubble receiver signals a good spot to throw since the defender has to respect depth first. User-controlled defenders who jump the bubble route immediately after the snap are exploiting anticipation, so the offense should counter with the inside zone keep or a peek concept variant.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify the alert defender, usually the slot corner or overhang linebacker, since his run/pass conflict determines your read.
Use this against defenses that show two-high shells with light box counts, since the numbers favor the run if the box is light and the bubble if it is not.
Hot route the backside receiver into a hitch or slant if you expect man coverage, since the pure bubble concept struggles versus man defenders who mirror the flat immediately.
Pair this call with RPO Peek Slant or RPO Read Bubble on the following snap to keep the alert defender guessing between run support and flat coverage.
Best used on early downs (first and ten, second and short) where defenses are more willing to load the box, giving you a clean bubble throw versus overcommitted run fits.
