Playbooks

Bubble Screen

Shotgun·Empty Base Trio·11

Screen Pass Bubble Screen Hitch Slant Pass Play

Likely unavailable in the playbook builder

This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetEmpty Base Trio

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Spread Classic

Breakdown

Bubble Screen out of Shotgun Empty Base Trio is a quick-hit screen designed to get the ball to your slot receiver in space before the defense can react. The three-receiver trio side runs a bubble concept where the outside receivers stalk block or run off coverage while the middle receiver sits down in the bubble as the primary target, with the offensive line selling pass protection for a beat before releasing to the perimeter. This is a zone beater at its core since it attacks soft cushions and off coverage, and the primary read is simply getting the ball out to the bubble receiver immediately off the snap.

Defensive Reads

Identify if the corner over the bubble receiver is playing man or off zone before the snap, tight man coverage kills this play immediately. Watch for a user controlled defender crashing down on the flat or bubble area, that lurk instantly turns this into a negative play or turnover risk. Check linebacker depth, if the flat defender or nickel corner is sitting shallow and reading the backfield, they can jump the route and blow it up. Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells with aggressive corner support at the line are the biggest counters to this play since the flat defender has an easy angle. If the defense blitzes off the edge, this play can actually work in your favor since the perimeter blockers can seal outside and create running room before the blitz arrives.

Usage Tips

Throw this instantly off the snap, this is not a play where you want to sit in the pocket and go through a progression.

Look for off coverage or soft zone cushions pre-snap, if the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with corners playing seven or more yards off, this play is money.

Use this on early downs like first and ten or second and short to keep the defense honest and set up explosive plays later in the drive.

Motion the bubble receiver before the snap to check if the defense follows in man coverage, if a defender shadows the motion, bail and check to a play like Slants or Stick Nod instead.

Pair this with Verticals H Option or Deep Attack in the same set so defenses cannot sit on the quick screen and get burned deep once they start jumping the bubble route.