Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Mtn Fk Screen Wheel is a play-action fake screen off HB motion out of Shotgun Doubles Y Off. The motion man fakes a screen at the line while the true HB releases on a wheel route up the sideline, with the TE running a deep dig-style break over the middle and two vertical routes stretching the far side of the field. This is a man beater built to exploit linebackers and safeties who bite on the screen fake, and the primary read progression starts with the wheel route out of the backfield, then works to the TE crossing route, then to the deep vertical routes on the far side.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebackers crashing down on the fake screen action, since this confirms man or aggressive run fits that the wheel route will exploit. Key the safety over the top pre-snap, if he is shaded to the wheel side in a two high shell he can undercut the route and shut down the primary read. Post-snap, identify any user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow flat, as he can jump the fake screen and blow up the timing of the wheel release. Against zone coverage, look for the flat defender sinking with the TE crosser, which opens a passing window for the wheel route up the sideline. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge can disrupt the quarterback before the wheel route develops, so check the protection numbers before committing to this call against pressure-heavy fronts.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion to bait linebackers into flowing toward the fake screen side before the snap even completes.
Check for man coverage indicators like safeties shading over the slot or corners playing tight press before calling this, since the wheel route wins big against man defenders who fail to carry it vertically.
Hot route the far side vertical routes into a comeback or hitch versus soft zone shells if the safety is sitting deep to take away the wheel.
Call this on early downs like first or second and short to mid distance so play action holds the linebackers longer and the fake screen freezes the front seven.
Pair this with HB Slip Screen and RPO Alert Counter Bubble in the same drive so defenders start respecting the run and screen fakes, opening up the wheel route later in the series.
