Playbooks

RPO Base Alert Bubble

Shotgun·Trips·10
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

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Breakdown

RPO Base Alert Bubble is a run-pass option out of Shotgun Trips that pairs an inside zone run with a bubble screen alert to the trips side. The quarterback reads the flat defender or first inside linebacker to the trips numbers: if that defender crashes down on the run fit, the QB pulls and fires the bubble to the slot receiver working into space, and if that defender sits or bails to cover the bubble, the QB hands off into the zone run lane. This is a true RPO that stresses light boxes and forces linebackers to choose between run support and flat coverage on every snap.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flat defender assigned to the trips bubble receiver, since his first step determines whether you throw or hand off and this is the entire conflict the play is designed to create. Man coverage with the slot corner sitting on top of the bubble receiver takes away the easy pitch and pushes you toward trusting the run action instead. A light box with only five or six defenders and a linebacker cheating toward the trips bubble is the green light to give the ball on the zone run since the numbers favor the interior. Zone coverage shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with the corner bailing deep and a linebacker flowing hard to the flat will bait a quick bubble throw right into a user controlled defender sitting in the passing lane, so be ready to abort if you see a linebacker sink into that zone instead of attacking downhill. Blitz packages that send extra defenders off the edge or overload the trips side can beat this play if the QB reads slow, since the alert bubble throw needs to come out immediately once the conflict defender commits.

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap and if you see six or fewer defenders in the box this is an automatic give read on the zone run. Identify the flat defender or overhang linebacker to the trips side since he is the entire conflict of this RPO and his leverage tells you run or bubble before the snap even finishes. Against man coverage look for a slot corner or nickel playing tight to the bubble receiver, which signals you should trust the run since the numbers advantage in the flat disappears. Use this play on early downs in run heavy sequences to set up RPO Alert Screen and RPO Zone Alert Screen later in the drive once the defense starts cheating a linebacker outside. Pair it with 45 Quick Base or Stick from the same set to keep the same personnel and formation look while changing the concept, which disguises your intentions and punishes aggressive defensive adjustments.

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