Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Power Alert Bubble is an RPO out of Singleback Bunch TE that pairs an inside Power run scheme with a bubble screen alert to the bunch side. The diagram shows the offensive line pulling and climbing to the play side for the downhill Power run while a bunch receiver runs a quick bubble route as the pre-programmed RPO key. The primary read progression starts with the alerted defender (usually a flowing linebacker or overhang corner): if he crashes down on the run fit, pull the ball and throw the bubble; if he sits or hangs outside, hand it off and let Power work behind the pulling guard and lead blocker.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flow of the play side linebacker at the snap since his crash or sit decision determines whether the RPO throws the bubble or hands off. Man coverage with the corner locked on the bubble receiver invites the run since the defender has no eyes in the backfield to play the run fit. Zone shells with a hard sink from the slot defender take away the bubble and force the offense into a straight Power run against the box count. Overloaded run blitzes with extra defenders crashing downhill get gashed by the bubble throw since the numbers advantage flips to the offense on the perimeter. User-controlled defenders who jump the bubble route immediately open up the inside run lane since the flow defender is out of position for Power.
Usage Tips
Presnap, identify the overhang defender or slot corner responsible for the bunch bubble and see if he is aligned to sink into the flat or crash on run support.
If the defense shows a light box with only six or fewer in the run fit, take the automatic handoff on Power and let your pulling linemen create the crease.
Against aggressive fill linebackers who key the mesh point, throw the bubble immediately off the snap for a numbers advantage on the perimeter.
Use this in run-heavy early down calls like first and ten or second and short to keep the defense honest and set up explosive plays later.
Pair this with Stretch Alert Bubble and Zone Fake Jet from the same set so the defense cannot key run fits based on formation alone.
