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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
RPO Alert Bubble is an inside zone run/bubble screen RPO out of Shotgun U Off Trips Wk with 12 personnel. The diagram shows the offensive line and TE blocking down for an inside zone run to the left while the running back takes the handoff path from the backfield, and the outside receiver in the trips bunch runs a quick bubble screen to the flat as the alert route. The QB reads the flat defender or overhang defender: if that defender crashes down to fill the run lane, pull and throw the bubble, if he stays wide, hand the ball off on inside zone.
Defensive Reads
Watch the slot defender over the trips bunch immediately after the snap since he is the conflict defender this RPO is designed to attack. Man coverage with the slot corner playing tight on the bubble receiver takes away the easy screen and forces the QB to trust the run fit. Zone coverage with a flat defender sitting underneath the bubble route is the toughest shell to beat since he can squat and jump the throw without abandoning run responsibility. A user-controlled linebacker spying the mesh point or crashing hard on run action opens up the bubble instantly, so defenses must discipline that defender to stay in conflict. Overloaded run blitzes from the front side can still beat this play if the playside linebacker fills fast enough before the RPO read develops, so defensive coordinators should stack the box against tendencies to run inside zone from this look.
Usage Tips
Check the alignment of the overhang defender or slot corner before the snap since this play lives and dies on that key defender's leverage.
Use this play on early downs in run/pass balanced situations like first and ten or second and medium so the defense cannot sell out on either the run or the bubble.
If the defense shows a hard box with the overhang walked down into the run fit, take the bubble automatically without needing to fully process the mesh point.
Pair this with Inside Zone and Outside Zone from the same set so defenders have to respect the run fit every snap, making the RPO key that much harder to diagnose.
Sequence this with RPO Zone Alert Bubble later in a drive since both plays look identical at the snap but attack the same conflict defender in different run schemes, forcing hesitation.
