Playbooks

RPO Zone Alert Bubble

Shotgun·Wing Stack Wk·12
RPOPass PlayRun Play

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Shotgun OffenseOffense

Breakdown

RPO Zone Alert Bubble is a run pass option built off an inside zone run scheme out of the Shotgun 12 personnel Wing Stack Wk set. The offensive line executes zone blocking to the play side while a bubble screen is alerted to a slot receiver, giving the quarterback a pre and post snap conditional read against overhang defenders. This play functions as both a run play and a zone beater passing concept, since the primary read progression starts with the play side alley defender or slot corner: if that defender crashes down to fill the run fit, pull and throw the bubble, and if he sits or widens to cover the bubble, hand the ball off into the zone run lane.

Defensive Reads

Identify whether the slot corner or overhang linebacker is sitting on the bubble receiver or crashing down into the run fit at the snap. Watch for user controlled defenders lurking in the shallow zone who can jump the bubble route and create a turnover opportunity. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with aggressive flat defenders tend to shut down the bubble read, forcing the quarterback into the zone run instead. Look for blitz packages that send extra numbers into the box, since that late trigger favors an immediate bubble throw before the pressure arrives. Man coverage with the slot corner playing tight outside leverage takes away the bubble entirely, so key on the box count to determine the zone run angle instead.

Usage Tips

Check the alley defender or slot corner alignment pre-snap to decide if you are hunting run or throw before the ball is even snapped.

Use this against light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box, since that guarantees a clean zone run lane if the defense stays honest on the bubble.

If you see two high safeties with soft corners over the slot, favor the bubble throw since zone coverage defenders are often slow to trigger downhill on flat concepts.

Pair this with RPO Zone Peek and RPO Read Bubble in your play calling sequence so the defense cannot key on one specific alert receiver or run gap.

Against aggressive user blitzers flying downhill at snap, get the ball out on the bubble immediately since the zone run lane will likely be clogged by extra defenders.

Save this play for early down and manageable distance situations like first and ten or second and short, where either outcome (run or bubble) keeps you on schedule.

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