Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Zone Read Bubble out of Shotgun Doubles Z Close Wk pairs an inside zone run scheme with a bubble screen read to the slot receiver, giving the quarterback a true give or throw decision based on the alignment of the play side flat defender or overhang. This is an RPO designed to punish light boxes and aggressive slot coverage, functioning as a numbers-based conflict read rather than a straight man or zone beater. The primary read progression is presnap box count into the zone run fit, then postsnap key on the flat defender or nickel corner to decide between handing off the inside zone or pulling and throwing the bubble to the slot.
Defensive Reads
Look at the slot cornerback or nickel alignment before the snap, if he is playing tight man coverage on the bubble receiver, the run read is usually the better option. Count the box presnap, light boxes with six in the box or fewer favor the give read on inside zone, stacked boxes with seven or more favor the bubble throw. Postsnap, key the flat or overhang defender's first step, if he flows hard toward the run action, he is vacating the bubble throwing lane. Zone coverage shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with off corners tend to surrender the bubble easily since the flat defender has run support responsibility. User controlled lurk defenders sitting on the slot receiver or an aggressive scrape exchange linebacker can shut this play down, so be ready to trust the zone run instead of forcing the pass read.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and if the defense shows six or more in the box, prepare to throw the bubble instead of forcing the zone run into a bad numbers situation.
Watch the slot cornerback or nickel defender at the snap, if he sits inside or crashes down on run flow, the bubble window opens up immediately and should be thrown fast.
Use this play on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage since the built in run/pass conflict punishes defenses that sell out to stop one option.
Pair this with Inside Zone and Mtn Inside Zone earlier in a drive to condition the defense to bite on run action, then come back to this RPO to expose overaggressive linebackers and slot defenders.
Combine with Dagger Z Comeback or Dagger X Comeback in your play calling sequence, since the vertical stress from those plays forces safeties and corners deeper, opening up the underneath bubble read even more.
