Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Stretch Alert Bubble is an outside zone run play with an RPO read tagged to a bubble screen, run from Singleback Trio 11 personnel. The diagram shows the offensive line and back executing the outside zone stretch play to the play side while the slot receiver runs a quick bubble screen route behind the line of scrimmage as the alert conflict read. The QB reads the flow of the alert defender (typically the alley or overhang defender) to decide between handing off the zone run or pulling and throwing the bubble to the flat. This is a run/pass conflict play designed to punish aggressive run fits and light box counts rather than a straight man or zone beater through the air.
Defensive Reads
Watch the slot corner or nickel defender at the snap, if he stays deep in coverage the run is live but if he crashes hard to fill the alley the bubble is open. Aggressive run blitz packages and eight man fronts get exploited by this play since the bubble punishes defenders selling out against the zone action. Off man coverage or press with no help underneath in the bubble flat area is the situation to trust the throw over the handoff. Disciplined zone defenses that keep the overhang defender squared and reading the mesh point can take away both the run lane and the bubble simultaneously. User controlled lurk defenders sitting in the shallow flat zone can jump the bubble route, so scan for a defender sitting unusually shallow before pulling the ball.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and pull the bubble immediately if the defense shows six or more in the box against 11 personnel.
Key the alert defender, usually the slot corner or overhang linebacker, and if he crashes down on run flow throw the bubble before he can redirect.
Use this on early downs like first and second and short to medium yardage to stay ahead of the sticks without forcing a difficult throw.
Pair this with HB Zone Wk and HB Toss from the same set so the defense cannot sit on the outside zone action and jump the run fit.
If the defense keeps sending extra defenders to the flat side pre-snap, shift into HB Dive or PA Boot from the same formation to attack the vacated middle or backside edge.
