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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
RPO Alert Bubble out of Shotgun Trips TE Offset is a true run pass option built around an inside zone hand off with a bubble screen alert to the backside of the formation. The diagram shows the backside receiver running a quick out breaking route while the read defender sits underneath, and the running back path bends behind the offensive line on the zone track. The primary read progression is the alert defender at the second level: if that defender crashes down on the run action, pull and throw the bubble alert, and if he sits or widens, hand the ball off and let the zone blocking work.
Defensive Reads
Identify the alert defender pre snap, usually a linebacker or slot corner aligned near the trips side who has run fit and coverage responsibility on the bubble route. Watch his depth and hips at the snap: if he steps up to fill the run lane, that is your green light to pull and throw. Man coverage with no underneath help on the bubble side gets exposed quickly since the flat defender has to choose between the runner and the receiver. Zone shells with a linebacker sitting in the flat or a cornerback playing off can shut this down by squatting on the bubble route while still keeping run support. Blitz packages that send extra defenders off the edge can beat the run action before the mesh point develops, so watch for overload pressure to the play side pre snap.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and count defenders in the box versus blockers to decide whether you want to lean run or throw. Use the trips side alignment to bait a linebacker or slot corner into crashing down on the run fake, then pull and fire the bubble alert route before he can recover. This play works best on early downs and short yardage third downs where defenses are geared to stop the run. Pair it with straight Inside Zone and RPO Zone Alert Bubble in the same set so the defense cannot key on rpo tendencies from formation alone. Against aggressive linebacker blitzes, snap it quickly and throw the bubble alert immediately since the read defender will already be out of position.
