Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Return RPO Read Flat Wheel out of Shotgun Deuce Close is a run pass option that reads the alley or flat defender to decide between the handoff and the pass. The diagram shows a flat route breaking outside and up the sideline into a wheel from the backfield receiver, an over route from the inline TE crossing to the opposite hash, and a shallow crosser sitting underneath from the slot, all while the offensive line executes zone run blocking to the play side. This is an RPO built to attack light boxes and flat defenders simultaneously, with the primary read being the wheel and flat combo on the boundary before checking the shallow drag underneath.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side linebacker or flat defender immediately after the snap since his run fit or flat drop determines whether the offense hands it off or throws the RPO. Watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the shallow zone, he can jump the underneath crosser if the quarterback stares it down too long. Man coverage on the backfield receiver is the biggest vulnerability, if you see man alignment pre-snap expect the wheel route to be the target. Sitting a linebacker in the flat and rolling a safety over the top takes away both the flat and wheel combo, forcing the offense back into the run. Disguise your run fit pre-snap with a walked up safety or delayed linebacker blitz to bait a bad handoff read and blow up the play in the backfield.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap, if the defense has six or fewer in the box pull the ball and attack the flat and wheel combo instead of handing it off.
Use the wheel route as your explosive play answer against man coverage since it isolates a linebacker or nickel defender on a vertical route down the sideline.
If the flat defender sinks with the wheel, the shallow crosser underneath becomes an easy check down against zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4.
Pair this play with Mtn RPO Zone Stick or RPO Read Cntr earlier in the drive so the defense has to respect both the run action and the quick game, making the wheel window bigger later.
Best used on early downs or manageable third and short situations where defenses are more likely to sell out against the run and open up the RPO passing window.
