Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Fake Bubble Go is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Y Trips Offset that sells the bubble screen to the trips side before releasing the slot receiver vertically on a go route. The backside X runs a lone vertical stem while the inline receiver on the trips side breaks outside on a quick out after selling the bubble fake, giving the quarterback a built-in checkdown if the deep shot is not there. The primary read progression starts with the go route off the play fake, moves to the backside vertical if the safety bites on run action, and comes down to the underneath out route as the last resort.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high safety shells like Cover 1 or Cover 3, since these are the most vulnerable to the go route once the safety commits to run support. Watch linebacker depth and alignment, if they are stacked tight to the box expecting run or screen, that confirms the bubble fake will pull them out of position. Post-snap, key the safety's first two steps, if he flows toward the line of scrimmage on the fake, the vertical route behind him is a live throw. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties are the toughest matchup for this concept, since the go route runs into help over the top. User-controlled defenders sitting in a lurk technique near the slot can jump the underneath out route, so avoid checking it down if you see a defender sitting at that depth post-snap.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or in run-heavy personnel situations where linebackers are keying run fits, since the bubble fake needs defenders flowing downhill to hit for full value.
Check the safety depth before the snap, if you see a single high safety cheating toward the box or a run blitz look, the go route has a much higher chance of getting behind the coverage.
Use hot routes to convert the underlying out into a hitch or drag against teams that stay disciplined and do not respect the fake, giving you a quicker outlet.
Pair this with RPO Bubble Y Pop and RPO Read WR Screen earlier in a series so the defense starts keying bubble action, then hit them with this shot play once they overcommit to stopping the screen.
Best used on second and short or third and short, or in scripted openers, when defenses are more willing to sell out against the run or screen look.
