Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Texas out of Pro Near (21 personnel) shows a five man route concept with two backs releasing into the pattern. The near back runs a wheel route from the backfield to the boundary sideline while the off back releases vertically up the seam. On the strong side, the TE runs a deep vertical route while the inside receiver runs a corner breaking route (the red route) that crosses underneath it, creating a natural high low stretch on that side, and the outside receiver runs a quick out to the flat. This is a man beater built off the wheel and seam combo to attack linebackers and safeties in coverage, with the primary read starting on the corner route working to the wheel route if the underneath defender widens with the flat route.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether a linebacker or safety is aligned over the backfield, since that defender is the key matchup the wheel route is designed to exploit in man coverage. Post-snap, watch for a user controlled defender flying downhill on the flat route, that is often a sign the wheel route behind it will be wide open. Against zone coverage, look for a deep half or deep third safety sinking to take away the seam and corner combo, that shell can bracket both vertical routes and force the checkdown. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender jumping the out route can undercut the quick throw, so be ready to climb the progression to the corner or wheel immediately. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge will remove a coverage defender from the underneath zone, so track whether the vacated area opens a throwing lane for the corner route sitting down in the honey hole.
Usage Tips
Use this against man coverage looks where you see a linebacker or safety walked up over the back, since the wheel route is designed to win once that defender loses the footrace up the sideline.
Check the flat route first as a hot read against blitz looks, it clears out fast and gives you a quick outlet before the deeper routes develop.
If the corner route defender sits and reads the quarterback, come off him quickly and progress to the seam or wheel rather than forcing the throw into a hole zone drop.
Pair Texas with Slants or Quick Outs earlier in a series so defenders start jumping short routes, then hit this play once you see cornerbacks and linebackers creeping up expecting the quick game.
Best called on second or third and medium to long when you have time to let the wheel and seam routes stretch the field vertically.
