Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Zone Alert Bubble is a run pass option out of the Shotgun Wing Slot Wk formation with 12 personnel. The diagram shows a zone run action to the right side of the line with the offensive line blocking down that way, while the outside receiver runs a bubble screen route behind the line of scrimmage and a second receiver runs a shallow crossing route underneath toward the backside. The QB reads the alert defender (typically an overhang linebacker or slot corner) to decide between handing off the zone run or throwing the bubble screen, making this a zone beater against light box looks and aggressive run fits.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the slot defender over the bubble receiver is sitting flat footed to jump the screen or backpedaling to respect run support. Watch the numbers in the box, if the defense stacks the box to take away the zone run, the QB should immediately pull and throw the bubble. Post-snap, user-controlled linebackers who crash hard on run fakes leave the bubble wide open, so track any user aggression on the run action. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with the corner playing off leave the bubble screen as a low risk completion, while Cover 2 with an aggressive nickel defender can jump the throw. Blitz packages that send the alert defender hard upfield are the exact trigger the RPO is designed to exploit, so watch for that first step at the snap.
Usage Tips
Check the box count pre-snap, if the defense has six or more in the box, key the bubble side alert defender to throw the screen immediately.
Use the flick or hot route to adjust the bubble receiver depth if the defense is playing a hard press corner on that side.
This play works best on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage since it keeps the offense balanced between run and pass.
Pair this with RPO Zone Peek and RPO Zone Read Bubble in your play calling sequence so the defense cannot key on the same alert defender every snap.
Against teams that spam the same blitz, mix in RPO Zone Slant Peek to punish overcommitted alert defenders with a quick slant instead of the bubble.
