Playbooks
Quick Reference
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Breakdown
RPO Alert Bubble out of Shotgun Tackle Over pairs an inside zone run look with a bubble screen alert to the slot. The diagram shows the inline TE releasing vertically as a run alert threat, the offensive line and slot blocker climbing to the second level on zone blocking paths, and the outside receiver running a wheel route up the sideline off a bubble stem. Post snap this is a true RPO read: the QB reads the alley defender or overhang backer, if he crashes down on the run action the QB pulls and throws the bubble or wheel, if he sits or bails the QB hands off the zone run. Primary progression is run key first, then bubble screen, then the wheel as a home run shot if the corner jumps the underneath route.
Defensive Reads
Watch the slot or overhang defender before the snap, if he is walked up tight to the line expect him to crash the run, opening the bubble and wheel. Post snap, key the flat defender's leverage, if he sinks under the wheel route while staying home on the run it is a sign of a disciplined scrape exchange defense. Man coverage on the outside receiver with no safety help over the top is the biggest liability, the wheel route will win against trail technique every time. Zone teams that spin a safety down into the box pre-snap are vulnerable to the bubble screen since the numbers advantage shifts to the offense on the perimeter. Beware user linebackers spying the mesh point, a smart defender who reads the QB's eyes can jump the bubble throw before it develops, so have a plan to hand the ball off if he bites early.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing man or zone by checking the slot defender depth, tight coverage means the wheel route has big play potential over the top.
Use your run alert or QB read hot route to confirm you are actually reading the correct second level defender before the snap so you do not misfire the RPO logic.
Against teams that walk a safety down into the box, key the flat or overhang defender's first two steps, if he squats the run is your answer, if he flies out to the bubble throw the wheel behind him.
Pair this play with 0 1 Trap and Inside Zone from the same set so the defense has to respect the interior run every snap, making your bubble and wheel reads slower to diagnose.
Best used on early downs (1st and 10 or 2nd and medium) when defenses are more likely to sit in base run fits, giving you a clean pre-snap run key.
