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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
RPO Read Bubble is a run/pass option out of Shotgun Tackle Over Trips with 11 personnel that pairs an inside zone run look with a bubble screen read to the trips side. The backside slot receiver runs a bubble route while the trips receiver closest to the formation motions or releases underneath, and the outside receiver on that side runs a vertical to hold the corner and safety. The offensive line and TE execute inside zone blocking to the run side while the QB reads the flowing linebacker or slot defender to decide between handing off or pulling and throwing the quick bubble, making this both a zone run beater and a light box RPO against overaggressive linebackers.
Defensive Reads
Watch the slot corner or nickel defender pre-snap, if he is aligned soft or off the ball he is likely reading run first and vulnerable to the bubble. Man coverage with the corner pressed on the vertical receiver opens up the bubble since there is no natural help defender in the flat. Zone coverage with a defender sitting in the flat or a curl-flat zone shell shuts down the bubble read and forces the QB to hand the ball off. Post-snap, key the play-side linebacker's first step, if he flows hard to string out the run he cannot get back to the bubble in time. Blitzes from the play side, especially nano blitzes off the edge, remove the run threat and force a quick bubble decision, so track edge pressure before the snap.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, count the defenders in the box and check if the slot corner or overhang defender is sitting on the bubble route before the snap.
If the defense shows a light box with six or fewer defenders, trust the run read and let the RB work inside zone.
If a linebacker or slot defender crashes hard downhill at the snap, pull the ball immediately and get the bubble out before the flow defender can redirect.
Use the vertical route from the outside trips receiver to hold the deep defender and prevent him from jumping the bubble throw.
Sequence this play with Inside Zone and RPO Read X Smoke from the same set so the defense cannot key on run or pass tendencies out of this exact look.
