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AFM Magazine


Packaging The Inside Zone With The Bubble Screen Out of a Stack Formation

by: Mike Emendorfer
Head Coach University of Wisconsin-Platteville
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In this article, we will discuss our stack formation and cover the basic principles of our inside zone play. We will then explain the quarterback’s and running back’s reads and meshing techniques. In the end we will focus on the bubble screen concept.
We decided to go to the stack formation for the 2006 season to improve our running game. In addition, we were looking for a run/pass option on choice downs without having to audible. We were looking for a four to seven yard gain on choice downs leading to manageable medium to short yardage situations on second and third down.
The zone/bubble combination is a very easy pre-snap read for the quarterback. The quarterback determines whether the defensive alignment is in our advantage for the bubble screen (i.e., overloaded in the box - See Diagram 1),

or is in favor of the inside zone (i.e., overloaded in the stack formation - See Diagram 2).

After he determines whether he will throw the bubble or run the inside zone he will go through the same mechanics no matter what his decision is. The beauty of this play is that the offensive line and the running back will always run inside zone and the receivers will go through their bubble action. Therefore, the defense will always see run and screen action no matter where the ball goes.


Stack Formation

In order to successfully combine the inside zone with the bubble screen we use the stack formation. We can stack our slot receiver either behind an inside receiver or an outside receiver (See Diagrams 3 and 4).



We also use a double stack formation where the slot receivers on both sides are stacked behind the outside receiver (See Diagram 5).

We feel that these formations have various benefits for both the inside zone and the bubble screen.
The benefit of the stack formation for the inside zone is the necessary adjustment of the outside linebackers to the stacked receivers. When up against conventional doubles and trips formations, most defenses apex their outside linebackers and make them double edge players defending the run and the pass. This presents a problem for the slot receivers because it is very hard to legally block the outside backers on inside zone plays. Against the stack formation the outside linebackers have to split out further from the nucleus of the formation in order to cover up the receivers. Therefore, they are less of a threat to stop the run or to blitz.
Another benefit of the stack formation is that the throw and catch of the bubble screen is a lot easier out of the stack alignment. On a regular bubble screen the QB has to throw a perfect ball to the up-field shoulder of the receiver who is moving away from him. The bubble pass out of the stack is thrown at an almost stationary receiver who faces the quarterback. This leads to a higher completion rate and a higher comfort level for both the quarterback and receiver.

Inside Zone Principles

We run our inside zone play out of the shotgun formation. We are a strict 10 and 20 personnel offensive team. Our inside zone play is a downhill attacking run play. Our aiming point for the play is playside A-gap, to backside A-gap, to cut back. We believe the front side B and C-gaps are non-factors in the play. We will block playside B and C-gaps and let anything come wider than the C-gap without making adjustments. We will concentrate on blocking the playside A-gap, backside A-gap and cut back lane to ensure the success of the play. We do not discourage the play from hitting front side; it will happen if pressure comes from the backside of the play.
We will briefly explain how we attack both 3-Down (See Diagram 6) and 4-Down (See Diagram 7) fronts.



Our zone philosophy does not change, but our technique will vary between fronts. Versus a 3-down front, we are thinking pressure at all times. We make a call up front indicating first, that we have a 3-down front and second, that we will stay on track and zone it off. The 3-down front leaves multiple bubbles and lanes for attacking linebackers; therefore, we will never double down on any down lineman. We will be conscious of them as an uncovered lineman and punch or flipper through them to the next level. Our backside tackle will climb the backside B-gap, being conscious of the defensive end crossing his face. That is the only situation where we will block the backside defensive end.
Versus a 4-down front, we are thinking movement on the two interior defensive linemen. We will still zone off the play, but with one or two linebackers in the box we can spend some time and get hip-to- hip movement on down linemen as the second level permits. We are still running a zone scheme and our uncovered principle stays the same. Only our uncovered technique changes. The uncovered lineman still takes a drop into his gap with eyes to the playside, but will quickly get vertical and combo the backside defender if nothing comes to the play side. With both fronts our backside tackle will determine whether there is a down B-gap threat. If not, he would climb at the B-gap defender and adjust to the D-gap defender if B disappears. This leaves the C-gap defender for the QB read.

QB & RB Reads and Mesh

The quarterback’s ability to successfully slow the game down and read defensive alignments as the play progresses is vital to the play having a successful outcome. As described previously, the quarterback has to determine with his pre-snap read if he decides for the inside zone or the bubble screen. If the quarterback decides for the inside zone, his post-snap read determines whether he hands the ball off or runs the ball himself.
The running backs action is always the same. He cannot leave his stance and begin downhill movement until the QB has secured the football. The reason for this is so the timing is always the same, even if the snap is off. It is the running back’s responsibility to get over the ball because the quarterback’s eyes are on his post-snap read ( i.e., the defensive end or C-gap defender).
Upon completion of the snap, the quarterback will open his hips and place the ball in the running back’s stomach with both hands, starting the mesh on his own back hip. This continues until the ball is in line with the quarterback’s belt buckle. At this point, as the mesh has reached its completion, the quarterback needs to determine if he will hand the ball off or run it. If the defensive end (or C-gap defender), who is left unblocked on the back side crashes down the line, the quarterback pulls the ball and runs outside off tackle. If the defensive end buzzes his feet or comes upfield, the quarterback will hand the ball off and fake the bubble screen pass or carry out his run fake.
The situation leading to the bubble screen is the same at the start. This includes the snap and mesh. As the quarterback determines the bubble screen numbers are in his favor, he will mesh until he reaches his own belt buckle at which time he will then pull the ball, square his body, and throw the screen to the stack receiver.
If the defense plays games, the quarterback must be able to think on his feet. This includes determining bubble numbers, pulling the ball, and then realizing an outside linebacker ran to the stack. In this instance we no longer give the bubble screen a high possibility for success. Therefore, the quarterback would have to pull the ball and run outside off tackle.

Bubble Screen Concept

The concepts of the bubble screen stay the same no matter where the receiver who is catching the ball is lined up. We are trying to get the ball to the receiver just outside the hash and tell him to aim for the numbers. He cannot cut the ball back before he reaches the numbers because of the pursuit by the defense. The pre-snap read by the quarterback determines a three-on-three situation over the stack formation with one defender likely being a deep defender. Therefore, we will be able to block the two low defenders, leaving the bubble receiver one-on-one with the deep defender in open space.
On the snap, the stacked receiver opens his hips and shoulders to the quarterback and feathers two to three steps to the outside. He cannot lose ground because the pass should be a forward pass caught behind the line of scrimmage. After he catches the ball he turns and runs to the numbers aiming upfield as quickly as possible (See Diagram 8).


The blocking by the other two receivers are determined by the defensive alignment. If the slot receiver has a good angle to pin the outside backer in, we will block straight ahead. If the outside backer is aligned too far outside of the slot receiver, the split end cracks and the slot arcs to lead outside (See Diagrams 9 and 10).




Versus a soft Cover 2 or a Cover 4 team, the split end has to read and block the force defender. He will push upfield while seeing the safeties reaction. If the safety comes downhill, the split end will change his path to block the safety. In this case the stacked receiver is one-on-one with the corner in open field (See Diagram 11).



Conclusion

At UW-Platteville, we feel that packaging the inside zone with the bubble screen out of the stack formation has tremendously improved our running game and our production on choice downs. This package can also be combined with a play action package, the quick passing game, and trick plays. We can run our base offense out of the stack formation and therefore force the defense to adjust to our attack without being predictable.






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