Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Divide Wheels is a play-action pass out of the Shotgun Bunch formation that uses the bunch alignment to disguise a divide route concept releasing into two wheel routes from the bunch stack, paired with a deeper crossing or dig element from the backside to stress the middle of the field. The play-action fake from the shotgun freezes linebackers just long enough for the wheel routes to climb the sideline against man coverage, making this primarily a man beater that exploits linebackers or slot corners who cannot turn and run with a releasing bunch receiver. The primary read progression starts with the near wheel route out of the bunch, moves to the divide route splitting the safeties over the middle, and finishes with the backside dig or crosser as the checkdown against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if a linebacker or nickel corner is aligned tight over the bunch with no safety help rotated to that side, since that alignment gets destroyed by the wheel route Watch for Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with safeties sitting deep, which allows the divide route to split the seams before the safety can close Post-snap, key the flow of the linebackers on the play-action fake, if they bite hard on the run fake the wheel route will be wide open against man leverage Look for a user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow crossing zone or spying the running back, since that defender can jump the divide route if the quarterback holds the ball too long This play struggles against disciplined Cover 2 or Cover 6 shells where the corner sinks with the wheel route and a safety sits over the top, so avoid forcing the throw into that leverage
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs or medium to long yardage situations where defenses are more likely to sit in man coverage or blitz off the play-action look
Check the pre-snap alignment for man coverage indicators like a linebacker walked up over the bunch or a corner shaded outside with no help over the top, since wheel routes torch man matchups
If you see two deep safeties with linebackers sitting in shallow zones, hot route the backside receiver into a deep dig or throw the divide route on time before the safety can rotate over
Pair this call with PA Cheat Divide Wheels or Bunch Sail earlier in a series so the defense respects the play-action fake and bites on run action, opening up the wheel route later in the game
Protect the play by keeping the running back in as a chip blocker if you sense an edge blitz, since the play-action fake needs at least two seconds to develop the wheel routes
