Playbooks

RPO Zone Read Bubble

Shotgun·Wing Slot Wk·12

RPO Pass Play Run Play Bubble Screen

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetWing Slot Wk

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 7 playbooks

Franchise College Spread OffenseOffense Balanced Pass OffenseOffense Franchise Offense QB RunsOffense Jets OffenseOffense Raiders OffenseOffense NFL Live Jets OffenseOffense NFL Live Raiders OffenseOffense

Breakdown

RPO Zone Read Bubble pairs an inside zone run with a bubble screen alert to the slot, giving the quarterback a true give or throw decision based on the alignment and reaction of the second level defender used as the read key. The blocking scheme is inside zone with the offensive line covering down while the backside receiver and wing sit as bubble targets for an instant perimeter throw. This is an RPO that functions as both a run beater against light boxes and a zone beater against off coverage, with the primary progression being read the box defender first, then reads the bubble receiver's cushion if you pull the ball.

Defensive Reads

Watch the defensive end or edge player assigned to the read key before the snap, if he crashes hard down the line on the snap that is your signal to pull and throw the bubble. Identify the flat defender or slot cornerback's depth pre-snap, if he is sitting at five yards or deeper in a soft zone shell the give read on the ground is usually the better call since the bubble throw window shrinks. Post-snap, track any user controlled linebacker flowing outside toward the bubble receiver, that lurk threat can jump the throw and turn it into a house call the other way. This play struggles against disciplined defenses running scrape exchange technique, where the end sits and the linebacker replaces him on the zone read, since it takes away the clean give lane. Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with aggressive flat defenders shut this down quickly, so if you see safeties rotating down pre-snap consider audibling to a play with a vertical shot instead.

Usage Tips

Check the box count before the snap and if there are six or fewer defenders in the box, lean toward pulling and throwing the bubble immediately rather than testing the zone read mechanics.

Use your right stick or hot route to widen the bubble receiver's release if the corner is playing tight press, since that extra separation window is what makes this RPO reliable against man coverage.

Snap the ball quickly on this play in obvious run down situations like second and short to catch defenses substituting or shifting late, since the read key often reacts slow to shotgun run action out of 12 personnel.

Sequence this play with RPO Peek Post or RPO Glance Post from the same set so the defense has to respect both the perimeter bubble and the vertical shot, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their run fits.

Save this play for third and short or second and manageable distances since the bubble alone rarely gains explosive yardage, but it is a low risk conversion tool when defenses sell out to stop the interior run.