Playbooks

RPO Trap Alert Bubble

Shotgun·Trips TE Offset·11

Trap RPO Run Play Pass Play Power Run

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrips TE Offset

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Cowboys OffenseOffense NFL Live Cowboys OffenseOffense

Breakdown

RPO Trap Alert Bubble out of Shotgun Trips TE Offset pairs a trap run scheme with a bubble screen RPO tag to the trips side, giving the quarterback a true run/pass conflict read on the alert receiver. The offensive line traps the play side defensive end while the backside guard pulls, and the QB reads the second level defender (usually a linebacker or the alerted flat defender) to decide between handing off the trap or pulling and throwing the bubble screen to the slot receiver. This is a genuine RPO that beats both man and zone coverage depending on how the defense reacts to the run fake, and the primary read progression is trap keeper first (crashing defender or overplaying linebacker) into an immediate bubble throw if the perimeter defender bites on run action.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, look at the box count and safety depth since a stacked box with a single high safety tells you the defense wants to stop the trap and dares you to throw the bubble. Watch the alert defender's leverage on the trips side, if he is playing outside leverage or is a run first linebacker, the bubble screen has soft space to attack. Post-snap, key whether linebackers step up hard on the trap fake, aggressive fits mean the pull and bubble throw is there before the defense can recover. This play struggles against disciplined zone defenders who sit on the bubble route while still maintaining gap integrity, since that forces the QB into a tough trap read against a clean front. Man coverage teams that blitz off the edge can disrupt the trap timing, so watch for nano blitz packages or overload pressure to the play side that beat the puller before the mesh point develops.

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap and if the defense is showing six or more in the box, lean toward pulling and throwing the bubble immediately instead of testing the trap. Identify the alert defender pre-snap, usually the flat or curl defender to the trips side, since his reaction dictates the entire read. Against man coverage with no underneath help, the bubble screen wins instantly because the trips receivers get natural picks and space. Against zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4, trust the trap run since linebackers will often flow with their run key and open running lanes inside. Sequence this play with RPO Alert Bubble and RPO Zone Alert Bubble earlier in a drive so the defense has to respect both the standard alert reads and the trap look, then hit this variant later to catch linebackers cheating toward the run fit. Use this on early downs (first and ten, second and short) since defenses are more likely to sit in run friendly fronts that this play exploits with the bubble RPO.