Playbooks

Fake Jet HB Wheel

Shotgun·Doubles Y Off·11
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Quick Reference

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Breakdown

Fake Jet HB Wheel is a play-action fake screen concept out of Shotgun Doubles Y Off that uses the jet sweep motion as a deception tool before the HB slips out on a wheel route up the sideline. The offensive line sells outside zone flow while the jet fake pulls linebackers and flowing defenders toward the perimeter, opening up the wheel route as a big play threat against overaggressive run fits. This is a play-action man beater designed to exploit linebackers and safeties who bite on the jet motion, with the primary read starting on the HB wheel against man coverage before working back to any underneath crossers or the backside route as the checkdown.

Defensive Reads

Identify the coverage shell pre-snap. Man coverage shells like Cover 1 or Cover 3 Man leave the HB isolated on a linebacker, which is exactly the matchup this play wants. Watch the flow of the linebackers immediately after the snap. If they crash hard toward the jet fake and lose outside contain responsibility, the wheel will be wide open down the sideline. Look for a user controlled defender spying the backfield or sitting in a lurk position near the flat. A disciplined spy or zone defender who reads the play fake can undercut the wheel route before it develops. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with safeties staying deep are the toughest defense against this concept, since the deep half or deep quarter defender can rally over the top of the wheel route. Blitz packages that bring extra defenders off the edge can disrupt the fake before the wheel route stems vertically, so check protection and consider a hot route adjustment if you see a heavy blitz look pre-snap.

Usage Tips

Call this play when you have already shown the actual jet sweep or jet run action earlier in the drive so the defense has film to overreact to the motion.

Best used on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage when defenses are more likely to sell out against the run.

Check the middle linebacker and safety depth before the snap. If they are sitting flat footed and reading the mesh point, the wheel has a strong chance to break open behind them.

Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or slant if you see man coverage rolled to the wheel side, giving you a quick answer versus press or bracket coverage.

Pair this with Jet HB Trap and Jet Inside Zone in your play calling sequence so the defense has to respect the actual jet run before you hit them with the wheel fake, and mix in Zone Fake Jet to keep linebacker eyes locked on the backfield action.

Other Plays in Doubles Y Off