Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Power Alert Bubble pairs a Power run scheme out of the backfield with a bubble screen alert to the slot receiver, giving the quarterback a pre-snap and post-snap decision based on defender count and leverage. The offensive line pulls the backside guard for Power blocking while the alert receiver sits in the bubble zone as an immediate throw option if the defense sucks up on the run look. This is an RPO at its core, functioning as a numbers-based conflict play that punishes zone defenses and light box fronts, with the primary read being the flow of the second level defender assigned to the bubble alert receiver.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flow of the alley defender or overhang linebacker since his reaction to the pull determines whether the quarterback should throw the bubble or hand off Power Press man corners on the alert receiver with no help underneath will shut down the bubble portion and force the offense into a straight run read Zone shells with a linebacker sinking to the flat immediately erase the bubble throw, so look for that defender staying home instead of crashing downhill Blitzes that bring extra defenders off the edge or through the A gap can outnumber the Power blocking scheme, so the quarterback must snap-read and get the ball out to the bubble before the pull develops Two high safety looks with light boxes signal a green light for the run since the defense is playing pass first against the RPO tag
Usage Tips
Count the box pre snap and if there are six or fewer defenders in the box, key the alert receiver's defender immediately instead of waiting on the mesh point read
Use your hot route menu to check the bubble receiver's leverage against man coverage since this concept struggles versus press man with no cushion
This play hits best on early downs like first and ten or second and short where defenses are more willing to load the box against Power runs
Pair this with Inside Zone or Counter Bash in the same set so the defense cannot sit on the pull blocking pattern and start jumping the bubble throw
If the defense shows two high safeties and a light box, take the automatic give to Power since the numbers favor the run behind the pulling guard
