Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RPO Read Cheat Wheel Flat is an RPO out of Pistol Deuce Close with 12 personnel that gives the quarterback a run/pass conflict read on the play side linebacker. Presnap motion sets up a wheel route from the flat receiver that bends up the sideline, a flat route crossing underneath from the opposite side, and a TE running a quick out and up (cheat release) into a vertical seam. The quarterback reads the second level defender: if he steps up to fill the run gap, throw the flat or wheel outside for a numbers advantage, and if he sits or drops into coverage, hand off the inside zone run action. Primary progression is wheel first for the explosive shot, then flat as the checkdown, with the run as the base fallback.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side linebacker's depth and run fit at the snap, since his decision to fill or drop determines whether the QB hands off or throws. This play beats aggressive run blitzing linebackers and light boxes because the wheel and flat exploit vacated space the instant the second level commits to the run. Cover 3 and Cover 1 shells with a linebacker forced into man coverage on the wheel route are especially vulnerable if there is no deep half safety help. Zone defenses with sound flat and curl to flat drops that hold their landmarks can take away both the flat and wheel, forcing the QB to check it down to the run. Watch for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow flat zone since that lurk threat can jump the underneath route and bait a bad read.
Usage Tips
Presnap, identify the play side linebacker's run fit before the snap since this RPO lives and dies off his reaction to the mesh point.
Use the motion man's cheat release to bait zone defenders into flowing wrong before the wheel route stacks vertically.
Best called on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and short) to keep the run and pass both viable and force honest defensive alignment.
Against man coverage look immediately to the wheel route for a big play if the defense shows single high with no safety help over the top.
Pair this with HB Dive or Inside Zone Split in the same set to sell the same run action, then hit this RPO once the defense starts crashing down on early down runs.
