Playbooks

Shark HB Wheel

Shotgun·Doubles Y Off·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

Redskins OffenseOffenseNFL Live Redskins OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Shark HB Wheel is a play-action based man beater out of Shotgun Doubles Y Off that isolates the running back on a wheel route against a linebacker or nickel defender. The concept sends the HB out of the backfield on a wheel while the receivers run vertical stems to clear out the deep coverage and hold the safeties, with the offensive line executing a standard drop back protection to sell the pass fake underneath. The primary read progression starts with the HB wheel matchup against the flowing linebacker, then works to any underneath crosser or check down if the wheel is taken away by a shell rotation.

Defensive Reads

Identify if a linebacker or slower defender is manned up on the HB, since this is the biggest indicator the wheel route will win deep Watch for a strong safety or nickel defender sitting in the flat, as this can jump the wheel route and turn it into a pick six if the QB stares it down Post snap, key on any user controlled defender lurking near the sideline flat since that is the primary counter to this concept in online play Zone shells with a flat defender and deep half safety over the top tend to shut this play down, so be ready to check the underlying crosser or check down instead of forcing the wheel Blitz packages that bring extra pressure off the edge can disrupt the timing of the wheel route, so account for hot routing the HB into a quick release or checking protection if you see stacked boxes or overload fronts

Usage Tips

Look for man coverage indicators pre-snap such as press corners or a linebacker shaded over the HB before committing to the wheel as your first read

Motion the HB or check the leverage of the covering linebacker to confirm this is a true speed mismatch before the snap

If the defense shows two deep safeties or a clear zone shell, be ready to hot route the HB wheel into a quick option or check down instead of forcing the deep shot

This play works best on second and long or third and medium when defenses are more likely to play man coverage to take away underneath sticks and crossers

Pair Shark HB Wheel with Mtn HB Base or Mtn HB Swing earlier in a series so linebackers start jumping HB routes out of the backfield, then hit them deep with the wheel once they overcommit

Use Fake Jet HB Wheel or Mtn PA Wheel as complementary calls to keep the defense guessing between actual wheel routes and jet motion window dressing

Other Plays in Doubles Y Off