The Bubble Screen: A High Percentage Perimeter Attack

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As athletes continue to grow faster, quicker and more explosive, it has become increasingly more difficult to effectively attack the perimeter of a defense. Defenses have spread with the emergence and popularity of four and five receiver sets. Leverage advantages on the perimeter are much more difficult to create from spread formations. The numbers advantages that were created when defenses loaded eight and sometimes nine defenders in the box to stop the run are no longer as readily available today.

Over the past seven years, our bubble screen has averaged 8.3 yards per catch for a completion average of 87%. The bubble screen has replaced the sweep, the toss and the outside zone as our primary perimeter weapon. Our offensive assistant coaches do an excellent job of teaching the fundamental techniques necessary to make the bubble an effective weapon in our arsenal. It can be an extremely high percentage screen when four specific prerequisites are met: 1. The bubble screen must be called as an opportunistic play call, 2. the proper personnel must be targeted and the bubble variations allow us to do that, 3. a numbers and/or leverage advantage must be present, and 4. like all aspects of football, proper fundamentals and techniques are vital to the success of the play. The purpose of this article is to discuss when to run the bubble screen; how to execute this play effectively when the opportunity presents itself; and to demonstrate some of the variations that allow us to throw to all of our receivers. Here is a listing of some statistics that show the success of the bubble screen over the last 11 seasons:

AVERAGE PER SEASON:
Completions: 40.7
Attempts: 49.2
Completion Percentage: 83%
Yards: 344.4
Touchdowns: 4.4

OPPORTUNISTIC vs. NON-OPPORTUNISTIC
It is important to note that the bubble screen is an opportunistic play and not a ‘bread and butter’ play call. We feel that this is a play we must have the capability to run when the defense is not properly aligned to defend it. A non-opportunistic play may be an off tackle power scheme that might be called no matter what the defense is running. To run the bubble, we want to have the ability to check into a bubble screen call and/or check out of a call.

The bubble screen can be called by our QB anytime we have a leverage or numbers advantage to the perimeter (See Diagram 1). We can also make a bubble screen play call and simply check out of it if the proper perimeter look does not present itself (See Diagram 2). Running the bubble screen when we have an advantage is the primary reason it averages 8.3 ypc and has been completed 87% of the time. It is also important to point out that the 13% that we did not complete were primarily due to poor throws by the QB. Improper footwork and technique led to most of the incompletions.

Diagram 1: Check into a bubble screen

Diagram 2: Check out of the bubble screen

PERSONNEL & VARIATIONS

When the prerequisites are met, the success of the bubble screen will ultimately be dictated by the ability level of the personnel. Players with great open field ability and quickness tend to have the most success in the bubble. The variations allow us to get the ball to the most explosive skill player aligned in the formation (See Diagrams 3-6).

Diagram 3: Trips to Willy

Diagram 4: Trips to Zebra

Diagram 5: Trips to Yogi

Diagram 6: Trips to Agy

We also have three blocking schemes that are called by our receivers. They have the flexibility to attack the defensive perimeter by utilizing the best scheme on each play. Our receivers will make one of three calls: Base, X or Crack (See Diagrams 7-9).

Diagram 7: Base

Diagram 8: X

Diagram 9: Crack

NUMBERS AND/OR LEVERAGE ADVANTAGE

Having the ability to check into or check out of a bubble screen call alleviates running the play without a numbers or leverage advantage. Anytime our QB feels we have a numbers advantage, he has the capability to check to the bubble screen (See Diagram 10). A numbers advantage would constitute having one or more receiver at the perimeter than the defense has in level 2 (0-8 yards). If we do not have a numbers advantage, we can still run the bubble screen if we have leverage outside of the defense with the bubble receiver (See Diagram 11).

Diagram 10: Trips bubble with a numbers advantage

Diagram 11: Twins bubble with a leverage advantage

PROPER FUNDAMENTALS & TECHNIQUES QB TECHNIQUE

The key for our QB is the footwork. We do not backpedal or drop with the QB. From under the center and in the Shotgun, he will always step with his throwing foot (right foot for a right-handed QB, left foot for a left-handed QB). When a right-handed QB is throwing to his frontside from under, he will open to 5 o’clock with his right foot, and then step to the target with his left as he triggers the football (See Diagram 12). When throwing to his backside, he will step with his right foot directly behind his left heel. The QB’s left foot will then step to the target as he triggers the football (See Diagram 13).

Diagram 12: QB throwing front side from under

Diagram 13: QB throwing backside from under

When the QB is throwing to his frontside from the gun, he will step into the snap with his throwing foot and then step to the target with his left as he triggers the football (See Diagram 14). Throwing to the backside from the gun requires that the throwing foot step slightly downhill while pointed at the target. His left foot will then step to the target as the ball is triggered (See Diagram 15). The bubble screen is a speed play and we want the ball out of the QB's hand in two steps.

The throw by the QB must be down the line, in front of the inside hip of the target and at chest level. This is imperative so that it does not disrupt the gait of the receiver.

Diagram 14: QB throwing front side from gun

Diagram 15: QB throwing backside from gun

RECEIVER TECHNIQUE

The take off by the receiver is important because he will be gaining yards without the football. Pinning the inside knee in is a key coaching point which facilitates an explosive take off and eliminates a false step. Staying parallel to the LOS without losing ground is the track we want the receiver to take. Losing ground gives defenders an opportunity to make up yardage. If the ball is never thrown, the receiver should run out of bounds two yards behind the LOS. We are looking to outrun the defense to the perimeter. The receiver will work his vertical push downfield off of the helmet read that is made on the contain defender. There is a ‘no cutback’ rule to alleviate any deceleration by the receiver.

Our 3 x 12 drill has been extremely effective in training our receivers to work to the perimeter and down the field without hesitation. The receivers’ goal is to get to a landmark of 12 yards downfield, three yards from the sideline. We ask our receivers to get there in three seconds (See Diagram 16). This is a drill we run daily to emphasize the speed aspect of the screen.

Diagram 16: 3 x 12 Drill

OL/RB TECHNIQUE

The outside zone scheme has been the most effective way to block multiple defensive fronts. We will call the OZ scheme to the play side and also to the backside. This is primarily a game play decision based on which action would be the most beneficial vs. a specific opponent. The key is to make sure we cut the EMLOS to the play side. Based on the scheme call, that will either be our PSOT or the RB (See Diagrams 17 and 18).

Diagram 17: OZ call to the playside. The PSOT will have cut responsibility

Diagram 18: OZ call to the backside. The RB will have cut responsibility.

The bubble screen is a concept that can be implemented into any offensive scheme. It promotes the speed at the skill position, provides a high percentage perimeter attack and helps build a foundation for a screen action pass package.

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