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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Mtn Angle Y Wheel is a play-action-style dropback pass out of Shotgun Doubles Flex Y Off Close that stresses the sideline and flat with a wheel route and multiple crossers. Off the diagram, the two receivers to the boundary run a shallow drag and a deep over/post-corner combo, the Y (TE) releases up the seam and bends outside on a wheel route, and the backside X runs a deep comeback toward the sideline while the RB releases into the flat as a checkdown or angle route. This is primarily a man beater, since the wheel route out of the backfield or slot is designed to exploit linebackers and safeties who cannot stay on top of the vertical break, and the natural read progression starts with the wheel route, works to the deep over/comeback on the backside, and settles down to the flat/angle route as the checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Identify single-high safety shells pre-snap, since Cover 1 and Cover 3 with man principles on the TE are the most vulnerable to the Y wheel route beating linebackers vertically. Watch the flat defender and the linebacker covering the TE at the snap, if the linebacker widens with the angle route stem instead of staying deep, the wheel is already open. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with safeties sitting deep can shut this down by having the safety to the TE side stay over the top of the wheel and rob the vertical break. Look for user-controlled defenders lurking in the middle of the field, since a smart user can jump the deep crossing route or the comeback and turn it into a turnover if the quarterback stares it down. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can disrupt this play quickly, since the wheel route takes time to develop and a fast interior pressure will force the quarterback off his spot before the read is ready.
Usage Tips
Look for man coverage indicators pre-snap such as corners aligned tight and safeties showing single-high, since the wheel route on Y is the biggest chunk-play threat against man defenders who cannot flip and run vertically.
Use motion or a hard count to force the defense to declare man or zone before the snap, then key the linebacker assigned to the TE, if he bites on the angle stem you have the wheel wide open up the sideline.
Hot route the shallow drag receiver into a deeper crossing route against zone coverage to occupy underneath defenders and open up passing lanes for the wheel.
This play pairs well with Mtn HB Angle or Mtn HB Fade in your play-calling sequence, since both plays start with similar backfield action and force linebackers to guess run versus pass.
Best used on second and medium or third and long situations when you need a explosive gain, since the wheel route takes time to develop and requires solid protection up front.
