Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Fake Screen Wheel is a play-action screen play out of Shotgun Doubles Offset that sells a bubble screen to the boundary while hitting a deep wheel route up the seam. On the play side, one receiver sprints out to sell the screen fake before the running back releases on a wheel that breaks upfield along the sideline, while the backside receiver runs a vertical route to hold the safety over the top. The primary read progression starts with the wheel route as the safety bites on the screen action, then works to the backside vertical if the deep coverage rotates over.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check if the cornerback over the wheel side is playing outside leverage or if the safety is rotating down to help on the screen fake. Post-snap, watch the flat defender and linebacker reaction to the screen action, if they crash hard the wheel route will be wide open behind them. This beats man coverage badly because the defender assigned to the running back will bite on the screen fake and lose the wheel up the sideline. Zone defenses with a deep half safety who reads the screen action can undercut the wheel route, so look for cover 2 or cover 4 shells that keep a safety deep. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in a lurk spot near the flat, a smart user will bait the screen and jump the wheel route, so time the throw before the defender fully commits.
Usage Tips
Call this play against defenses that have shown aggressive screen recognition or fast flow to the flats on early downs.
Use the screen fake to freeze linebackers and safeties who are keying run or bubble action, then trust the wheel route to win over the top.
Best used on second and medium or third and long when defenses are anticipating a quick underneath throw and drop their eyes.
Pair this with Mtn HB Slip Screen or HB Slip Screen earlier in a drive so the defense over reacts to the screen fake and bites harder on this dressed up version.
If the cornerback presses the wheel route runner, hot route the backside vertical into a comeback or dig to give the quarterback a quicker outlet.
