Playbooks
Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.
| Player | Side | Route |
|---|---|---|
| SLWR | Left | Run Block |
| WR1 | Left | Bubble Screen |
| WR2 | Right | Run Block |
| TE1 | Right | Run Block |
RPO Alert Bubble is a run pass option built off inside zone action from Singleback Doubles Y Off Flex, giving the quarterback a pre-snap and post-snap alert to throw the bubble screen to the slot receiver or hand the ball off on the zone track. The blocking scheme is inside zone with the offensive line working covered to uncovered while the backside slot receiver sits in a bubble alignment as the alert read. Primary progression starts with the alert key defender (usually the flowing linebacker or slot corner), if that defender crashes down on the run fake the quarterback pulls and throws bubble, if he sits or bails the quarterback hands off into the zone run lanes. This is a numbers based RPO that punishes light boxes and overaggressive linebacker flow rather than a straight man or zone beater in the traditional passing sense.
Watch the slot cornerback or nickel defender pre-snap, if he is playing off with outside leverage the bubble window is already open before the snap Key the second level flow of the play side linebacker at the snap, if he crashes hard toward the line for run support the quarterback should be pulling to bubble almost automatically Zone shells with a flat defender sitting underneath the bubble area, like Cover 3 sky or Cover 4 with matched flat coverage, take away the easy bubble throw and force the offense into the run User controlled defenders who spy the mesh point or lurk in the shallow flat can jump the bubble route if the quarterback tips the throw early, so disguise the eyes and make the decision late Overloaded blitz fronts with extra defenders in the box actually help the offense here since it triggers the run key look, but a disciplined defensive end who stays home on the RPO fake can blow up the handoff read
Check the box count before the snap, if the defense has six or fewer in the box you already know the run is live so focus your alert key on the slot defender for the bubble decision
Use this on early downs like first and ten or second and short where defenses are more likely to sell out against the run with an extra linebacker or safety in the box
Hot route the bubble receiver's blocker if the defense shows blitz off the edge to that side, this keeps the numbers advantage clean and protects the throw
Pair this with HB Slip Screen and Wide Zone from the same set so the defense has to respect both the perimeter screen game and the interior run game, making your alert key hesitate longer
Against teams that spam user blitzers at the mesh point, snap the ball quickly and trust the alert read rather than holding it to freelance, this play is designed to be decided fast