Playbooks

Mtn PA Wheel

Shotgun·Doubles Y Off·11
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 4 playbooks

Sim Focusedtargeting Ba OffenseOffenseSim Focusedtargeting Ph OffenseOffenseSim Focusedtargeting Rn OffenseOffenseSpread Classic

Breakdown

Mtn PA Wheel is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Doubles Y Off that hides an HB wheel route behind a run fake, designed to attack overaggressive linebackers and single-high safeties. The mountain motion (Mtn) shifts the backfield look pre-snap, selling run action before the HB releases up the sideline on the wheel while the backside routes work as clear-out or checkdown options against zone drops. This is primarily a man beater, since the wheel route torches linebackers or safeties who bite on the play fake or lose the HB in coverage, and the primary read progression starts with the wheel route out of the backfield before working to any underneath or intermediate crossers as the checkdown.

Defensive Reads

Watch for linebacker depth at the snap, if the linebacker assigned to the HB flows hard to the play side run fake, the wheel route will have a wide open lane up the sideline. Identify single high safety shells like Cover 3 or Cover 1, these are the most vulnerable to the wheel since the deep defender often has to choose between the wheel and other vertical threats. Key the flat or curl defender in zone coverage, if that defender sinks into a zone drop instead of carrying the wheel vertically, this play gets picked apart. Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties are the best defense against this concept, since a safety can rotate over the top and squeeze the wheel route before it separates. Look for user controlled defenders spying the HB out of the backfield, a smart human defender can sit on the wheel route and jump the throw if the quarterback stares it down too long.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage so the run fake actually holds linebackers and safeties.

Check the box count and safety depth before the snap, if you see a single high safety or a linebacker cheating up expecting run, the wheel route has a great shot to break open deep.

Motion or shift pre-snap if allowed to confirm man coverage, if the defender assigned to the HB follows the motion tightly you know you are getting man and the wheel is live.

Hot route the backside receiver into a shallow drag or spot route if you anticipate a zone shell, this gives you a quick underneath answer if the wheel is not open immediately.

Pair this play in sequence with Mtn HB Base or Mtn HB Swing earlier in a series so the defense keys run action off similar formation and motion, then hit them with the wheel when they sell out to stop the ground game.

Other Plays in Doubles Y Off