Playbooks

PA Wheelies

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 2 playbooks

Franchise Offense BootscootinOffenseSpread Classic

Breakdown

PA Wheelies is a play-action shot play out of Pistol Spread 10 personnel designed to attack aggressive linebackers and safeties who bite on the run fake. The concept sends receivers on wheel routes off the play-action fake, stretching zone coverage vertically down the sideline while creating natural picks against man defenders who try to trail through traffic. This is primarily a man beater since the wheel routes exploit linebackers or nickel corners who get picked or lose leverage against speed turning upfield, and the primary read progression starts with the wheel route to the field side before working back to any underneath outlet or checkdown if the shot is not there.

Defensive Reads

Look for single high safety alignment pre-snap, which signals man coverage underneath and opens the wheel route against a linebacker or slot corner who cannot match speed vertically. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, since linebackers who step up hard on the run fake create the biggest running lane for the wheel route to separate before the ball is even thrown. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties, since those shells put a safety over the top of the wheel route and can turn this into a low percentage throw unless the underneath route is used instead. Watch for a user-controlled defender spying the running back or shooting the flat, since this pressure disguises the wheel and forces a quick decision from the quarterback. Beware of Cover 2 Man or man match concepts that assign a safety to bracket the wheel route, since these shells shut down the deep shot and force the checkdown read.

Usage Tips

Use this on early downs like first and ten or second and short so the run fake actually holds linebacker eyes and the play-action animation sells. Check pre-snap for man coverage indicators such as corners lined up tight with inside or outside leverage and safeties showing single high, since that shell gives the wheel route the best angle to win outside. Hot route the underneath receiver into a quick out or drag if you diagnose zone coverage post-snap, since sitting in the flat against zone gives you a safety valve when the wheel gets covered over the top. Pair this play with HB Dive and Read Option earlier in a series so the defense commits to run fits, making the wheel route fake hit harder on third or fourth call. Sequence PA Wheelies with PA Wheelie Curls in the same set to keep defenders guessing between the double move and the standard wheel, forcing linebackers to hesitate on run reads.

Other Plays in Spread