Playbooks
Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Jet PA HB Wheel is a play-action shot play out of Pistol Doubles Y Off Stack that sells jet motion across the backfield before the QB fakes the handoff and rolls the pocket protection stays in to block. The HB releases late out of the backfield on a wheel route up the sideline, while the stacked receivers run a deep corner/go combo to clear the top of the defense and the backside X runs an out breaking route for a shorter answer. This is a man beater built to exploit linebackers biting on the run fake or getting picked off on the wheel release, with the primary read progression going from the HB wheel first to the deep corner route from the stack, then working back down to the backside out if the coverage stays disciplined.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing man coverage with a linebacker or nickel aligned tight on the HB, since that defender is the primary key for the wheel route matchup. Watch for a two-high safety shell versus a single high look, as Cover 3 and Cover 1 leave the flat defender exposed once he widens to respect the jet motion fake. Post-snap, key the flat or hook defender's reaction to the jet motion sweep action, if he crashes down or bites on the run fake the wheel route will be uncontested up the sideline. User-controlled defenders sitting in a deep third or playing a lurk technique underneath can undercut the wheel route if they stay patient and do not overreact to the play fake. A disciplined Cover 4 or Cover 2 look with safeties staying deep and outside linebackers holding contain will take away both the wheel and the corner route, forcing the checkdown to the backside out.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or after establishing Jet HB Zone and HB Dive so linebackers respect the run fake and step up out of position.
Check the pre-snap alignment of the play side linebacker or safety over the HB, if he is sitting flat footed in the box the wheel route has a high chance of springing wide open.
Against man coverage, take the HB wheel first since defenders trailing the jet motion or run fake usually get picked or lose their footing at the release point.
Against zone shells, especially Cover 3 or Cover 4, look to the deep corner route from the stacked receivers since the flat defender will widen with the wheel and open a soft spot behind the underhang.
Combine this in a sequence with Jet HB Zone and Jet Touch Pass earlier in a series so the defense keys jet motion as a run or quick pass threat, making them vulnerable to the wheel breaking the tendency.
If the user controls a linebacker to spy the HB, hot route the backside out into a quicker breaking route to get the ball out before the roll fully develops.
