Playbooks

Bubble Screen

Singleback·Wing Slot·12
Screen PassBubble ScreenPass PlayOut
Play diagram for Bubble Screen from Singleback Wing Slot in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationSingleback

In 4 playbooks

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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
PlayerSideRoute
HB1MiddlePass Block
TE2RightOut
WR1LeftRun Block
WR2LeftBubble Screen
TE1RightPass Block

Read progression

  1. WR2 left, Bubble Screen
  2. TE2 right, Out

Breakdown

Bubble Screen out of Singleback Wing Slot is a quick-hitting screen pass designed to get the ball out to the perimeter before the pass rush arrives. Off the diagram, the Y (TE) releases outside then bubbles back toward the sideline for the screen, while the X runs a shallow drag underneath the defensive front to sell run action and occupy underneath defenders. The offensive line lets the front flow upfield to create running lanes for the bubble receiver, making this a horizontal stretch concept that beats aggressive zone blitzes and man pressure alike. The primary read is the bubble to the Y in the flat, with the drag from the X as a secondary checkdown if the screen is jumped.

Defensive Reads

Watch for slot corners or nickel defenders sitting in the flat pre-snap, since this indicates the defense may already be keyed to jump bubble screens. If linebackers show blitz off the edge or vacate underneath zones immediately at the snap, the bubble screen has a huge running lane and should be your go-to answer. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with deep safeties are vulnerable here because underneath defenders often bite on the play fake or get caught flat footed reading blocks. User controlled defenders who bail into deep zones instead of attacking downhill leave the flat uncovered, exploit this by getting the ball out immediately. Avoid this play against defenses that show a hard flat defender or a spy sitting outside the tackle box, since disciplined zone coverage or a sniffed out screen call can blow this up for a loss.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or third and short when the defense shows heavy pressure or blitz-happy tendencies to punish overaggressive rushers.

Check pre-snap for corners playing tight man or blitzing linebackers vaulting the box, since both leave the perimeter wide open for the bubble.

Snap the ball quickly and get the screen out before the user can drop a defender into the flat, this beats delayed zone drops and Cover 3 sky rotations.

Pair this with HB Dive or Inside Zone Split earlier in a series to bait linebackers into crashing downhill, then hit the bubble to exploit their overpursuit.

Use motion or shifts pre-snap to identify if a defender is spying the flat, and if so, hot route the drag route on X into a quick out to give yourself an easy conversion.

Other Plays in Wing Slot