Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn China Wheel is a bunch based play-action style dropback concept out of Shotgun Bunch Str Nasty that attacks vertical and horizontal seams with a five man route combo. The bunch releases into a wheel route up the sideline, a deep post from the backside X, an intermediate out breaking corner route, a shallow drag crossing underneath, and a check down flat route from the backfield, giving the quarterback layered coverage stress from three levels. This is primarily a man beater, using the wheel route to attack trailing man defenders and linebackers who cannot carry it downfield, with the drag serving as the zone beater outlet if the underneath coverage is soft. Primary progression starts with the wheel route up the numbers, works to the deep post crossing the middle, then checks down to the drag and flat if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if a linebacker or slot corner is aligned over the bunch, since that defender is the key to the wheel route matchup. Check safety depth before the snap, two high shells force an early post read while one high safety opens the wheel down the sideline. Post-snap, watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the flat or wheel lane, as this is the most common way defenses jump this route and bait a turnover. Zone heavy defenses like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with disciplined linebacker drops can take away both the wheel and drag, forcing a checkdown to the flat route. Man coverage with inside leverage on the bunch is the biggest liability, so look for a linebacker or nickel defender losing outside leverage on the wheel release.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion out of the bunch to confirm man versus zone before the snap, since a defender running with the motion man signals man coverage and opens up the wheel route immediately.
Attack Cover 1 and Cover 3 with the wheel route since linebackers and slot corners struggle to carry it deep down the sideline.
If the defense shows two deep safeties, prioritize the post route since the wheel will run into the deep half defender.
Call this on second and long or third and medium when you need a explosive gain, and pair it with Mtn Curls or Corndog Trail as play-action complements so the defense has to respect both the quick game and the vertical shots.
Hot route the drag into a deeper crosser against zone heavy defenses to give the quarterback a reliable intermediate answer if the wheel and post are taken away.
