Playbooks

RPO Read Cheat Wheel Flat

Pistol·Deuce Close·12
RPOFlatWheelMotionPass PlayRun Play
Play diagram for RPO Read Cheat Wheel Flat from Pistol Deuce Close in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

In 12 playbooks

49ers OffenseOffenseBears OffenseOffenseCardinals OffenseOffenseChargers OffenseOffenseDolphins OffenseOffenseRaiders OffenseOffenseNFL Live 49ers OffenseOffenseNFL Live Bears OffenseOffenseNFL Live Cardinals OffenseOffenseNFL Live Chargers OffenseOffenseNFL Live Dolphins OffenseOffenseNFL Live Raiders OffenseOffense

Breakdown

RPO Read Cheat Wheel Flat is an RPO out of Pistol Deuce Close with 12 personnel that gives you a run/pass conflict read on the play side flat defender. The diagram shows the outside receiver running a wheel route up the sideline while the tight end runs a shallow flat route underneath it, with a inline blocker releasing on a vertical seam read up the middle and the run action working behind the offensive line. Your primary read progression starts with the flat defender: if he sits or crashes down on the run action, pull the ball and throw the flat or bang it up top to the wheel if the corner bites underneath, and if the box stays gapped correctly hand it off and let the run scheme work.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check safety depth and corner alignment on the wheel route side, since a single high safety rotation or a corner playing tight man leaves the wheel route vulnerable to a big play if the linebacker level bites on run action. Post-snap, key the flat defender or the outside linebacker responsible for the flat and wheel combo, if he sinks under the wheel and stays home in the flat you take away both throws and force the offense into the run. Watch for user controlled defenders lurking in the shallow flat window, since a smart user pinning the flat throw or spot dropping can bait the quarterback into a turnover on the RPO read. Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties, the wheel route has help over the top, so sit the flat defender and trust the safety rotation to erase the vertical threat. Blitz packages that bring extra defenders off the edge or through the A gaps can disrupt the run fake timing and force a rushed decision, so disguise pressure with a delayed blitz or nano blitz look to collapse the pocket before the quarterback reads the flat defender.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing man or zone by checking the flat defender depth and the corner alignment over your wheel route runner, since a hard outside corner leverage with a linebacker crashing down is your green light to throw the RPO.

Use motion before the snap to get a free read on the defense, if the defender assigned to the motion man follows across the formation you know you are facing man coverage and the wheel route has a strong chance to win deep.

Hot route the flat runner to sit at five yards against zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 so the flat throw stays a high percentage completion instead of getting run off the field.

This play works best on early downs, first and ten or second and short, since the run threat keeps linebackers honest and increases the odds the flat defender bites on the play fake.

Pair this call with HB Dive or Inside Zone Split earlier in a series so linebackers start cheating downhill, then come back to RPO Read Cheat Wheel Flat to punish overaggressive run fits with the wheel shot.

Other Plays in Deuce Close