Football Library · Plays

Bubble Screen· 11v11 Tackle

basicaka Bubbleaka Quick Bubble

Quick perimeter screen to a slot receiver retreating behind the line of scrimmage.

The design

How Bubble Screen works

Standalone quick screen to a slot receiver.
The target releases backward and outside on the canonical Bubble banana arc, catches 0-3 yards behind the line of scrimmage, and immediately turns up the sideline.
In tackle, the nearest outside receiver may stalk-block under the adopted rules.
In non-contact flag, supporting receivers run legitimate routes and must not obstruct defenders.
Backside receivers clear coverage.
Unlike Bubble RPO, this is a called pass with no run read or handoff option.

Coach the details

: 1-yard bubble to the sideline — release back and outside, eyes find the ball; requires permission for forward catches behind the line.
: stalk-block the corner — get hands inside, drive him off coverage so the runner has the edge.
: 18-yard go — full-speed release, ball goes over the top.
: 4-yard drag inside — shallow cross, find the void in zone.
: 3-yard flat to the sideline — release flat — outlet for the QB.
: pass protect.
: pass protect.
: pass protect.
: pass protect.
: pass protect.

Call sheet

PressureCall it when the defense gives the slot a numbers or leverage advantage, especially against pressure or a soft apex defender.
Game planThe ball should be out immediately into open space.
Game planUse only where forward catches behind the line are legal; supporting blocks also require league permission.
Defensive lookUse fast motion or a stack to uncover the bubble against press.
Game planIn no-block flag rules, have the outside receiver occupy the corner with a short hitch instead of modeling an illegal stalk block.
Game planOn a compressed field, shorten the receiver split so the bubble still has room to arc outside.

Pre-snap to post-snap

Call it when the defense gives the slot a numbers or leverage advantage, especially against pressure or a soft apex defender.
In no-block flag rules, have the outside receiver occupy the corner with a short hitch instead of modeling an illegal stalk block.
In non-contact flag, supporting receivers run legitimate routes and must not obstruct defenders.
Backside receivers clear coverage.

Cover 0: Anything that develops slowly — pressure gets home first Better answers: Four Verticals, Mesh, Slant-Flat, Smash
Cover 1: Outside vertical shots — the free safety caps them over the top Better answers: Mesh, Drive, Smash, Y-Cross, Four Verticals, Levels
Cover 2: The flats — the corner squats and jumps anything quick outside Better answers: Smash, Four Verticals, Flood
Tampa 2: The deep middle — the Mike runs it, so a straight seam is contested (unlike base Cover 2) Better answers: Smash, Flood
Cover 3: Deep outside — the three-deep shell caps outside verticals Better answers: Curl-Flat, Slant-Flat, Smash, Flood, Four Verticals, Snag, Dagger, Stick
Cover 4: Deep shots — four deep defenders make it very hard to win over the top Better answers: Stick, Snag, Slant-Flat, Curl-Flat, Mesh

Troubleshooting

Avoid it against press leverage that can collision the bubble target or when the defense has more perimeter defenders than available receivers.
It is a quick numbers throw, not a slow-developing route concept.
The receiver runs forward before widening; the bubble must retreat first so the throw stays clean behind the line.
The quarterback holds the ball instead of catching and throwing immediately.
The outside receiver releases vertically without accounting for the corner, leaving the bubble target one-on-one at the catch point.