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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Fork Wheel out of Shotgun Doubles Y-Flex Offset is a five man route concept built around a crossing X-Y combo underneath and a wheel route from the slot receiver on the boundary side. The two receivers to the left cross into a pick/rub concept with one settling on a short in-route while the other clears vertically, the flex TE runs an underneath drag to the flat, and on the right side the slot receiver runs the wheel up the sideline while the outside receiver runs a deep crossing route over the top. This is a man beater first and foremost since the crossing routes on both sides create natural rubs and the wheel exploits any linebacker or safety trying to match up on the slot receiver, with the primary read progression starting at the wheel route, then working back to the deep crosser, and finally checking down to the underneath drag.
Defensive Reads
Man coverage is the biggest vulnerability here, especially if a linebacker or slower slot corner is assigned to the wheel route defender. Watch the flat defender pre-snap, if he widens with the flex TE motion or alignment it opens a running lane for the wheel route up the sideline. Zone coverage with a deep half safety rolled to the wheel side can undercut the route, so identify two high safety shells before the snap to gauge if the wheel is realistic. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker or nickel defender assigned to the crossing routes, if he sits and reads the quarterback's eyes he can jump the underneath drag and blow up the checkdown. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender squeezing the sideline is the toughest shell for this concept since it takes away both the wheel and the shallow drag simultaneously.
Usage Tips
Attack man coverage first since the wheel route is the built in home run shot against a linebacker or slower defender trying to stay in phase down the sideline.
Check pre-snap for single high safety looks, if the safety cheats to the trips or crossing side you have a clean one on one for the wheel route on the backside.
Use the underneath drag as a checkdown against zone blitzes or heavy pressure looks when your protection cannot hold up long enough for the deep routes to develop.
Pair this play with Curl Combo or Y Shallow Cross earlier in a series so defenders start jumping short routes, then hit them with Fork Wheel to burn overaggressive linebackers and nickel corners.
Best called on second or third and medium to long when you need a explosive gain and have confirmed man coverage from film study or pre-snap motion.
