Playbooks
Breakdown
RPO Zone Alert Bubble out of Shotgun Trips TE Offset pairs an inside zone run with a bubble screen alert to the trips side, giving the quarterback a pre and post snap key on the numbers advantage. The offensive line and fullback execute standard zone blocking while the slot receiver sits in the bubble as the outlet, making this a true numbers based RPO rather than a straight man or zone beater. Primary read is the flat defender or first alley linebacker: if he crashes downhill on the zone action or widens to take away the bubble, throw or hand off opposite his leverage.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a nickel or slot corner playing outside leverage on the bubble receiver, that alignment signals the defense is sitting on the screen and daring you to run If the linebacker assigned to the alley stays square and does not widen, the zone hand off is live and should be the quarterback's default answer Man coverage shells with the slot corner turning his back to run with the bubble man are a green light to pull and throw immediately Watch the weak side safety depth, if he rotates down into the box pre snap the run fit is stacked and the RPO throw becomes the higher percentage option User controlled defenders sitting the bubble route with a lurking linebacker or safety will bait the quarterback into a pick six look, trust the run key over user movement
Usage Tips
Check the box count to the trips side before the snap, if the defense has only two defenders over three receivers the bubble is already open
Key the flat defender or curl to flat player at the snap, if he sits in the throwing lane pull it and give the zone run a chance to hit the alley
Use this on early downs in normal personnel counts to stay balanced and keep the defense honest against your run heavy calls in this set
Pair this with RPO Trap Alert Bubble and RPO Alert Screen later in the series so linebackers cannot sit on the same run action every snap
Hot route the backside slot into a quick out if you see a corner blitz coming from the trips side to give the quarterback an instant answer
