20 Personnel Bubble Screen Is So Simple & Effective
It’s no secret that here at FirstDown PlayBook we think a screen pass is a huge weapon when the right Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach teach them. They can be deployed several ways but today we focus on this Bubble screen out of 20 personnel.
This particular screen is designed to create a numbers problem for the defense. It’s a simple equation of six blockers vs six or seven defenders. Is it a run pass option? Sure it is.
Note to the wise though. We were running this in the NFL long before the buzz phrase RPO was attached to everything. The uniqueness of this play for us was utilizing 20 personnel to run it.
If you trot 20 personnel onto the field, you have the Defensive Coordinator thinking about several things. The first thing is likely going to be “What formation are they going to line up in?”
As an offense you can line one of your Running Backs up as a slot or wideout and be almost as threatening as you would if you did it with 11 personnel. In fact, one could argue that the second Running Back is a bigger threat than a Tight End.
Whatever the case, the defense is going to lean towards opening the middle of the field with their coverage. That’s what makes this football play so simple and effective.
You Roll 20 Personnel Out & Most DC’s Are Going To Open Up The Middle Of The Field
The simple part is why I am emphasizing it here today. Your high school or youth football quarterback more than likely is not ready for complex RPO reads.
This one allows your quarterback to focus on one defender. If the Will Linebacker or Nickel Will plays in the box your Quarterback will throw the Bubble Screen.
If the Will bounces out to cover the slot as they motion across, then your Quarterback hands the ball off on the sweep away from the bubble.
Why the motion as opposed to just lining up with the slot away from the sweep side? It’s not just window dressing. The motion will normally force the Linebacker to do something that reveals their responsibility. Every little tip helps the QB.
Do your Running Backs have to have enough toughness to lead block? Absolutely, but this is not an isolation block by any stretch of the imagination.
So if you have two Running Backs that allow you to play both of them at the same time, give this video a quick watch. Also be aware that FirstDown PlayBook has more Bubble Screens, Hitch Screens, Slow Screens and Jailbreak screens where this came from.
