Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Stretch Alert Bubble is an outside zone run out of Singleback Doubles with a pre-snap RPO style alert to a bubble screen. The diagram shows the offensive line flowing hard right on the zone track while the running back takes a lateral stretch path to the edge, giving the blocking scheme time to reach the outside. On the backside, the slot receiver runs a shallow bubble route underneath while the outside receiver on that side breaks up and away on a corner-ish release to clear space, and the far side receiver stays uninvolved as a decoy. The primary read is presnap: identify if the defense is crashing down on the run fit, and if the flat or bubble area is uncovered, throw the alert bubble instead of handing off.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat and slot cornerback depth before the snap, if they sit off the bubble receiver the offense will likely take that free access throw. Keying the play side linebackers is critical, if they flow hard to string out the stretch run without respecting cutback lanes the running back can cut it up inside. User a defender to sit in the bubble screen lane on early downs to bait the quarterback into throwing it and then jump the route for a big hit or pick. Against zone coverage shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4, the corner reading run flow late can get beat by the bubble if he crashes too aggressively. Man coverage on the backside slot receiver combined with a linebacker or safety spying the bubble lane shuts down the alert throw and forces the offense into the actual outside zone run.
Usage Tips
Check the alignment of the flat defender and slot corner before the snap since this determines whether you hand off or throw the bubble alert.
If the defense shows a walked up nickel or overloaded box, take the automatic bubble throw for a quick five to seven yard gain instead of forcing outside zone into extra defenders.
Use this play on early downs like first and second and ten to keep the defense honest between run and quick pass without changing personnel.
Pair this with HB Stretch, HB Cutback, and HB Wide Draw from the same set so defenses cannot key on the stretch action, then mix in the alert bubble when they start crashing hard.
Motion or shifting the backside slot receiver can help confirm man versus zone and make the bubble read even easier post snap.
