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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
Reload PA Shake Bubble is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Empty Base Flex that uses pre-snap motion to bring a receiver into a bubble screen look on the right before releasing him vertically. Off the play-action fake, the backside runs a deep crossing route that clears out to the far sideline while the middle receiver works a shake route (in and out breaking) as the intermediate option, and the near-side X sits on a shallow drag underneath. This is a man beater built to attack the shake route against trailing defenders while giving the QB a built-in bubble/flare answer if the defense jumps the fake, so the primary read progression starts with the bubble motion man for a pre-snap or immediate post-snap answer, then works to the shake route in the middle, and finally to the deep crosser if a coverage bust opens the backside.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flow of the linebackers after the play-action fake since aggressive run-support linebackers will vacate the middle and open a throwing lane for the shake route. Check the cornerback over the motion man pre-snap, if he follows across the formation into the bubble alignment that confirms man coverage and tells the QB the shake route will have a favorable matchup. Look for a deep safety cheating toward the shake route's break point, a single-high safety who bites on the play-action fake will get beat over the top by the deep crosser. Beware defenses that stay disciplined in zone drops (like Match or Cover 3 sink) since the shake route sits in a crowded intermediate window and can be jumped by a sitting linebacker or robber defender. User-controlled defenders spying the middle of the field or playing a lurk technique are the biggest threat to the shake route, so if you see a user flashing to that area, check down to the bubble or drag instead.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap since a defender running with the motion man confirms man coverage and opens up the shake route behind him.
Sell the play-action fake with a full commitment on the joystick to hold linebackers and freeze the second level, buying the shake route time to break open in the intermediate zone.
This play hits best on second and medium or third and short since the shake route and bubble option both give the QB a quick, high percentage completion if the defense sells out on the run fake.
Pair this call with Reload HB Sweep and Reload Inside Zone earlier in a drive so the play-action fake actually holds linebackers, then dial up Reload PA Shake Bubble once the defense starts crashing downhill.
If the defense shows heavy blitz pre-snap, hot route the shallow drag into a quick out or use the bubble as your blitz-beater outlet to get the ball out before pressure arrives.
