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Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Bubble Screens is a double screen concept out of Shotgun Spread Y-Slot, running mirrored bubble routes to both the left and right slot receivers. Both outside receivers stalk block at the line while the slot receivers sit down in the bubble just outside the box, letting the offensive line and TE work to the second level to spring the catch. This is a zone beater at its core, designed to attack aggressive underneath zone drops and off-man leverage by getting the ball out fast to space, with the primary read being a pre-snap or post-snap decision to throw to whichever side has the numbers advantage or softer flow from the second level defenders.
Defensive Reads
Watch corner depth pre-snap: if both corners are playing seven yards off with outside leverage, the bubble screens will have room to work before the flow arrives. Key the alignment of the flanking linebackers or slot corners, since a defender sitting inside at five yards or less can undercut the bubble read and blow it up for a loss. User a linebacker or slot defender and spy the bubble immediately after the snap rather than dropping deep, this is the single best way to shut down both sides of this concept. Man coverage with press corners and inside linebackers reading run keys is the worst matchup for this play, since blockers cannot get a body on a defender already sitting in the throwing lane. If the defense shows an overload blitz to one side, expect the quarterback to work the opposite bubble, so rotate underneath help away from the pressure look before the snap.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, count defenders near the box on each side and throw to the bubble with the better blocking numbers, since this play lives and dies on winning the edge in space.
Look for Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells where corners are playing off and safeties are deep, since those shells give the slot receivers a free release into the bubble with no immediate jam.
Use this as a changeup after running inside zone or HB Draw from the same formation, since defenses that start crashing linebackers downhill to stop the run get gashed by the quick bubble to the perimeter.
Hot route the backside bubble receiver into a quick hitch or keep him on the bubble depending on which side the defense overloads, giving you a built in answer versus both blitz looks.
Best used on first and second down in space friendly situations, especially against defenses that show heavy blitz pre-snap, since the quick release neutralizes pressure before it arrives.
