Playbooks

PA Wheelie Curls

Pistol·Spread·10
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

In 1 playbook

Spread Classic

Breakdown

PA Wheelie Curls runs off Pistol Spread play-action to freeze the linebackers before attacking the flat and intermediate zones. The wheel route out of the backfield stresses man coverage by using a natural mismatch against linebackers who have to open their hips and run vertically, while the curls sit down in the underneath zones to punish soft coverage and hesitant zone defenders. This is a play-action man beater with zone beater elements built in, and the primary read progression starts with the wheel route against man coverage, then works to the curl breaking open in front of zone drops if the wheel is covered.

Defensive Reads

Identify single high safety looks before the snap, since Cover 1 and Cover 3 shells leave the wheel isolated on a linebacker with no safety help over the top Watch the flat defender post snap, if he widens with the wheel route immediately the play is likely designed to bait you into a user pick or lurk Key the middle linebacker's drop, a fast downhill trigger on the run fake means the wheel will be wide open behind him Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells the curls become the better target since the underneath zone defenders have to balance run support and flat responsibilities Beware disguised blitzes where the slot corner or nickel shows blitz then bails into a zone drop, this can jump the curl route and turn it into a pick six if you force the throw

Usage Tips

Sell the play fake by holding the ball fake button and waiting for the linebackers to bite before releasing your eyes downfield

Check the pre-snap alignment of the linebacker responsible for the running back, if he is walked up tight to the line the wheel has a strong chance to win against man coverage

Use this on early downs like second and short to keep the defense honest, since the run fake carries more weight when the run game has been established

Hot route the backside curl into a deeper dig or comeback against teams that sit hard in Cover 3 to give yourself a second high percentage option

Pair this call with Read Option or HB Dive earlier in a series so the defense keys run action, then hit them with PA Wheelie Curls once the linebackers start creeping up

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