Playbooks

Orbit Fake Screen Wheel

Shotgun·Doubles Offset Wk·11

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetDoubles Offset Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 3 playbooks

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Breakdown

Orbit Fake Screen Wheel is a play-action screen fake out of Shotgun Doubles Offset Wk that baits linebackers and underneath defenders with an orbit motion screen look before releasing the running back on a wheel route up the sideline. The offensive line sells the screen block momentarily before the RB peels out on the wheel, creating a natural mismatch against linebackers who bite on the fake or lose the RB in man coverage. This is primarily a man beater designed to exploit aggressive defenders and lurking linebackers, with the primary read progression starting on the RB wheel route against man coverage, then working to any underneath crossers or the backside receiver if the wheel is taken away.

Defensive Reads

Identify if the linebackers are trained to jump underneath screens, since aggressive user linebackers flowing to the fake open up the wheel route immediately. Check safety depth pre snap, deep two high shells give the wheel route room to work up the sideline before help arrives. Watch for man coverage matchups on the running back, if a linebacker is manned up on the RB this play is designed to win that leverage battle on the wheel. Cover 3 sky or cloud looks with a flat defender staying home can shut this down since the flat defender will not bite on the fake and can carry the wheel route vertically. Post snap, track whether the defense sends a delayed blitz or spy, since a spy assigned to the RB will negate the wheel fake and force a check to the backside route.

Usage Tips

Call this play when you see linebackers flowing hard toward the flat on screen recognition, since the fake will freeze or pull them out of position for the wheel.

Use this on early downs or second and medium when defenses are more likely to sit in zone coverage and bite on the screen action underneath.

If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with safeties deep, check the flow of the linebackers post snap since a slow trigger on the fake means the wheel route has a soft spot to work into against zone drops.

Pair this play with RPO Peek Orbit Bubble and RPO Orbit Bubble earlier in a drive so the defense keys on stopping the actual screen and bubble concepts, making them more susceptible to the wheel fake later.

Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or slant if the defense shows blitz, giving the quarterback a fast release option away from the fake screen action.