Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Stretch Alert Bubble is an outside zone run play out of Singleback Bunch TE with an RPO alert built in to the bunch look. The offensive line flows laterally to the play side executing zone blocking rules while the running back reads the stretch flow and looks for a crease to cut upfield. The bunch alignment shows a bubble screen alert tagged to the play, giving the quarterback a pre-snap or post-snap option to throw the quick bubble to the flat if the defense overcommits numbers to the box. Primary progression is a run first, RPO second read: the quarterback reads the flow of the second level defenders and box count before deciding to hand off the zone run or pull it for the bubble screen alert.
Defensive Reads
Watch the box count and slot cornerback alignment before the snap since a defender shaded outside the bunch is likely sitting on the bubble screen. If linebackers crash hard downhill at the mesh point, expect the quarterback to pull and throw the bubble alert to the flat. Zone coverages with a flat defender sitting at five to seven yards can jump the bubble route, so respect the sit and squat technique from corners or nickel backs in Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells. Man coverage that presses the bunch receivers and locks eyes in the backfield is more vulnerable to the outside zone run since it removes an extra flat defender. Watch for a user controlled linebacker flowing hard to the play side, which signals the defense is selling out on the stretch run and opening up the bubble screen as the counter.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and use the bubble alert as your answer to overloaded fronts or extra defenders creeping down. If the defense shows six or more in the box, pull the ball and throw the quick bubble screen for an easy conversion. Use pre-snap motion or a hot route check on the bunch receivers to confirm man versus zone coverage before committing to the handoff. This play pairs well with Inside Zone and Power Alert Bubble in the same set since all three threaten downhill runs while carrying the same bubble RPO answer, keeping the defense honest. Best called on early downs (first and ten, second and short) where defenses are more likely to sell out against the run, making the bubble alert a low risk explosive answer. Avoid calling this against teams that user the slot defender aggressively since that defender directly threatens the bubble throw.
