Playbooks
Breakdown
Bubble Screen out of Singleback Doubles is a quick-hitting screen play designed to get the ball out of the QB's hands immediately and into space. The diagram shows the slot receiver on the left running a bubble route, sitting shallow and to the outside behind the line of scrimmage while the outside receiver on that side blocks down for him. On the right side, the isolated receiver runs a vertical streak up the sideline as a clear-out route to occupy the deep defender and pull coverage away from the screen. The primary read is the bubble route to the left, with the QB throwing it almost pre-determined based on leverage, using the outside receiver's block to spring the catch for yards after catch.
Defensive Reads
Key the slot defender's alignment before the snap, if he is playing outside leverage or blitzing off the edge, jump the bubble route with a user defender immediately. Watch for a linebacker or nickel corner sitting in an underneath zone drop, since a disciplined flat defender can undercut the bubble and turn it into a turnover opportunity. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with a hard outside corner press, this locks up the streak route and lets the defense rally to the bubble with numbers. User a linebacker to lurk the bubble throwing lane on early downs, since the QB's read on this play is fast and predictable once the ball comes out. Beat this play with disciplined edge defenders who stay square and don't get sucked upfield, allowing the block to whiff and forcing the bubble receiver to catch it short of the sticks.
Usage Tips
Throw this early and often against aggressive man coverage and blitz-heavy defenses to punish defenders crashing off the edge or blitzing off the slot.
Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at the defensive alignment to confirm the slot corner or nickel is playing tight man, since that leaves the bubble uncovered once the block is set.
Hot route the backside streak into a comeback or hitch if you see a deep half safety sitting on top, since the clear-out is only useful if the corner bites on it.
Pair this with HB Power O Alert Bubble or HB Stretch Alert Bubble in your play-calling sequence so the defense has to respect both the run alert and the bubble concept from the same look.
Call this on early downs against nano blitz packages or overloaded fronts, since the quick release neutralizes interior pressure before it develops.
