Playbooks

Stretch Alert Bubble

Outside Zone Run Play Zone Run Bubble Screen Pass Play

Receiver routes

Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.

See this play with a team's players

Player	Side	Route
WR3	Left	Run Block
WR2	Left	Run Block
TE1	Right	Run Block
WR1	Left	Bubble Screen

Read progression

WR1 left, Bubble Screen

Breakdown

Stretch Alert Bubble is an outside zone run play out of Singleback Bunch TE with an RPO style bubble screen tag built in. The offensive line flows laterally toward the play side to reach block and create a running lane while the HB presses the edge, and the alert tag gives the QB a pre-snap or post-snap alert to throw the bubble screen to the flat instead of handing it off if the numbers favor the pass. The tight bunch alignment at the line, along with the red stretch path bending outside and the yellow bubble arrow releasing to the flat, shows this is a zone run play with a built in screen alert rather than a true dropback pass. Primary read progression starts with the alert key (numbers or leverage to the bunch side), then bounces to the zone blocking flow on the ground if the alert is off.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing a light box with only six or seven defenders, which favors the handoff on outside zone. Watch the flat defender or slot corner assigned to the bunch, if he sits too far inside or bites on run action, the bubble screen alert becomes an easy completion. Man coverage with no underneath help to the bunch side is vulnerable to the bubble since the receiver gets an immediate release with blockers in front. Zone coverage that keeps a defender sitting in the flat or a cloud corner reading run/pass will shut down the bubble read and force the offense into the handoff. Post-snap, watch for a user controlled defender flying downhill on the zone action, since that leaves the bubble wide open, or watch for a linebacker sprinting outside to erase the bubble, which means the cutback lane on the run is now available.

Usage Tips

Check the defender count to the bunch side before the snap, if the box is light and the flat defender is wide, tap the alert to throw the bubble immediately for a quick easy gain.

Use this play on early downs to keep defenses honest, since the outside zone action forces linebackers to respect the edge and opens up the bubble read against overaggressive fronts.

Pair Stretch Alert Bubble with Shift HB Sweep and Zone Fake Jet in the same set to keep the defense guessing between outside zone, jet motion, and screen concepts out of the same bunch look.

If the defense sells out to stop the bubble screen with a flat defender crashing hard, stick with the handoff and trust the zone blocking to cut backside for a cutback lane.

Avoid calling this on obvious passing downs like third and long, since the play design is best used as a run first concept with a built in bailout screen rather than a designed dropback.