Playbooks

RPO Zone Alert Bubble

Shotgun·Tight Y Off·11
RPOPass PlayRun Play

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 9 playbooks

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Breakdown

RPO Zone Alert Bubble is a run pass option out of Shotgun Tight Y Off that pairs an inside zone run scheme with a bubble screen alert to the slot receiver. The quarterback reads the alert defender, typically the flat or slot defender over the bubble, and either hands off the zone run or pulls and fires the bubble screen if that defender crashes down. This play is designed as both a run play and a light zone beater, punishing linebackers and slot corners who sit too aggressively on the run fit.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify the slot or flat defender assigned to the bubble alert, if he is playing off with depth the run is live and the bubble is covered. Watch linebacker depth and run fit discipline, undisciplined linebackers who step up hard on zone action open the bubble throw window. Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells with aggressive flat defenders are vulnerable since the alert defender often bites on run action. Man coverage or Cover 1 with a defender locked on the bubble receiver shuts this play down, the quarterback should stay committed to the run in that look. Post-snap, user controlled defenders sitting in the flat or lurking underneath can jump the bubble route, if you see a user flash toward the slot receiver, take the zone handoff instead.

Usage Tips

Check the alignment of the slot defender before the snap, if he is stacked inside or crashing hard on run support that is your cue to pull and throw the bubble immediately.

Use this on early downs like first and second and short yardage situations where defenses expect a run and sell out to stop inside zone.

If the defense shows heavy run blitz looks with linebackers creeping to the line, take the bubble as a built in answer without hesitation.

Pair this play with RPO Zone Alert Glance and RPO Zone Alert Omaha in the same set to keep defenders guessing between bubble, glance, and vertical alert reads off the identical zone action.

Against man coverage with no flat defender threat, trust the zone run since the alert read will not be there.

Other Plays in Tight Y Off