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Bubble

The concept

A receiver bellies back and outside behind the line while everyone outside him blocks or clears.

  1. The offense1 / 3
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    The look

    A receiver bellies back and outside behind the line while the receivers outside him clear or block. The ball is gone before he has reached the line of scrimmage.

  2. vs Man2 / 3
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    The conflict

    His man goes with him, so the bubble is only as good as the leverage — an outside defender kills it immediately.

  3. vs Man3 / 3
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    The throw

    The count outside. If they are outnumbered out there before the snap, it is thrown before anyone can close.

Why it works

  • The decision is made before the snap

    Count the defenders over the receivers to that side. Outnumbered, throw it. Not outnumbered, do not. There is no read after the ball moves.

  • It turns a throw into a run

    The catch happens behind the line with grass and blockers in front. What follows is a running play that started with a head start.

  • It forces a defense to widen

    Every completion out here makes the defense account for the edge, and everything inside gets easier because of it. That is worth more than the yards.

How it gets run badly

  • Throwing it into outside leverage

    A defender aligned outside the receiver kills this before it starts. That is exactly the pre-snap picture that says check to something else.

  • The receiver drifting forward

    He has to belly BACK to catch it. Drifting upfield puts him level with the coverage and leaves his blockers behind the play.

  • Throwing it a beat late

    On time it is five yards and more. A beat late it is a defender arriving with the ball, and a loss.

Draw Bubble for your own team

Open it in the designer, change the routes, save it to your playbook.

Open the designer