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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Shark HB Wheel out of Shotgun Doubles Flex sends the HB out of the backfield on a wheel route up the sideline while the TE (inline X) runs a deep crosser under the two vertical releases from the outside receivers, and the slot receiver runs a drag underneath heading back across the formation. The lone backside receiver clears out deep with an outside release. This is a man beater built to spring the HB wheel against linebackers or slower coverage defenders who cannot stay on top of the route, and the crossing traffic underneath is designed to pick off or confuse man defenders trying to trail the HB. Primary read progression starts with the HB wheel out of the backfield, works to the TE crosser as the intermediate answer, and comes back down to the underneath drag if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Identify if a linebacker or slower defender is matched on the HB pre-snap, that mismatch is the key to this entire concept. Watch for a single high safety shell (Cover 1 or Cover 3) since the wheel route can win over the top if the deep defender bites on the crossing routes underneath. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender who sinks into a lurk position in the middle of the field, he can jump the TE crosser or the underneath drag and blow up the easy completions. If the defense shows Cover 2 or Cover 4 with defenders sitting on the flat and staying deep, the wheel route will not have room to work and you should reset to the underneath drag instead. Beware of overload blitzes to the HB side, since releasing him on the wheel removes a blocker and can leave the quarterback exposed if the protection is not adjusted first.
Usage Tips
Check the box or slot defender over the HB before the snap, if he is a linebacker or a safety in the box this wheel route is live all the way.
Look for man coverage indicators like press alignment on the outside receivers or a defender lined up directly over the HB, this play struggles against true zone shells with underneath defenders sitting on flat routes.
Use the hot route menu to keep the HB in as a chip blocker versus known blitz teams if you are worried about protection before releasing him on the wheel.
This play hits best on second and long or third and medium when defenses are more likely to play man coverage to take away the sticks.
Pair this call with Orbit PA HB Wheel or Curl Flats earlier in a series so the defense respects the flat and gets conditioned to jump underneath routes, setting up the wheel to hit over the top later.
