Post Wheel out of Shotgun Deuce Close (12 personnel) shows a four man route concept with a stalk-blocking backside receiver at the top of the formation. The inside receiver from the closed side runs a post to attack the middle of the field while the outside receiver on that side runs a wheel route up the sideline, creating a natural high-low stretch on any defender assigned to the flat or corner zone. The single receiver to the open side runs a corner route while the tight end releases underneath on a shallow flat route, giving the quarterback a full field progression from the wheel to the post with the corner and flat as outlet reads. This is primarily a man beater, designed to exploit man coverage defenders who try to carry the wheel route or get picked off by the post breaking underneath, though the vertical stretch on the sideline also stresses zone defenders in the deep third.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high look, since a single high shell means more man coverage underneath and a green light for the wheel route. Watch the flat defender or slot cornerback at the snap: if he stays low to jump the underneath flat route or tight end release, the wheel will beat him over the top for an explosive gain. If you see a Cover 3 shell with the corner sinking into the deep third, expect the wheel to get squeezed, so shift your eyes to the post route working into the middle void. Key the weak side linebacker or nickel defender for a lurk threat sitting on the post route crossing pattern, since a user controlled defender jumping that route can bait an interception if you force it. Diagnose blitz packages pre-snap by counting box defenders, and if you see an overload blitz coming off the edge, get the ball out quickly to the flat or corner route since the deep post and wheel take longer to develop.

Usage Tips

Use this play on second or third and medium to long when you need a big chunk play down the field against man coverage.

Check the cornerback alignment pre-snap: if you see a corner playing tight man on the receiver who runs the wheel, this play is a green light because the wheel will separate vertically once the underneath traffic clears.

Hot route the flat running back or tight end into a quicker route if you diagnose a blitz, since the underneath option becomes your emergency valve against pressure.

Pair this play with RPO Read Flat Wheel or Return RPO Read Flat Wheel earlier in a series so the defense keys run action, making the wheel route look even more dangerous on this straight drop back version.

Against zone shells, prioritize the post over the wheel since the post will find the seam between the deep safeties while the wheel gets sat on by a flat defender rotating over the top.

Post Wheel

Quick Reference

In 3 playbooks

Receiver routes

Read progression

Breakdown

Defensive Reads

Usage Tips

Other Plays in Deuce Close