Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Post Wheel Shallow is a three level pass concept out of Shotgun Ace Slot Offset with 12 personnel. The backside slot runs a deep post that splits the safeties, the outside receiver on the same side runs a shallow cross underneath into the flat, and the frontside receiver runs a wheel route from the flat up the sideline. This is a man beater at its core: the shallow drags the defender across the field to open room for the wheel, while the post attacks any single high safety or a cornerback playing off leverage. Primary read progression starts with the post if the safety bites on run action or plays flat footed, then works to the shallow crosser as the checkdown, then to the wheel late if a linebacker or nickel gets picked off in man coverage.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and leverage: a single high safety signals man coverage and opens the post for a big play if he steps up on run fakes. Post-snap, watch the flat defender's reaction to the shallow cross since it often causes a natural rub against man coverage, freeing the wheel route up the sideline. Zone coverage with two deep safeties (Cover 2 or Cover 4) shuts down the post window, so be ready to check down to the shallow cross underneath. Watch for user controlled linebackers sitting in the shallow zone or lurking for the crosser, since they can jump the underneath route and bait a turnover. Blitz packages that bring extra pressure off the edge can disrupt the timing of the post and wheel, so identify pre-snap blitz alignment and be ready to get the ball out quickly on the shallow route.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs or third and medium when you want to test man coverage with natural picks created by the shallow cross.
Pre-snap, look for single high safety alignment or man match shells since the post route wins vertically against Cover 1 and Cover 3 with only one deep defender to cover the middle.
If you see two high safeties (Cover 2 or Cover 4), hot route the post to a slant or dig to avoid throwing into the safety help and lean on the shallow and wheel combo instead.
The wheel route is a great answer against man coverage when a linebacker or slot corner tries to trail the receiver through traffic, so user your quarterback to buy time and let the wheel clear upfield.
Pair this play with Flood or PA Y Corner from the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick flood concepts and this deeper three level shot play, forcing linebackers to respect both shallow and vertical stems.
