Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Reload HB Wheel is a motion-based passing concept out of Shotgun Empty Base Flex that resets an empty backfield look into a boundary attack. Pre-snap motion brings a receiver in to reload the backfield, and off that action the wheel route releases up the sideline while a shallow drag and deep dig work underneath from the trips side, with a comeback and a shallow out on the backside two-man combo. This is a man beater first and foremost, since the wheel route is designed to exploit a man defender who trails through traffic, and the primary read progression starts with the wheel against man leverage before working back to the dig and shallow crossers if the coverage rotates to zone.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether a linebacker or safety shadows the motion man across the formation, since that confirms man coverage and tells you the wheel will have a favorable matchup against a slower defender. Watch the flat defender on the trips side immediately after the snap, if he sinks with the shallow drag or crashes on the underneath route he opens a running lane for the wheel to climb vertically unchecked. Key the deep safety alignment before the snap, a single high safety shell suggests man under coverage which is vulnerable to the wheel, while two deep safeties indicate a zone shell that will force you to check down to the dig or shallow routes. User a linebacker to spy or shadow the wheel route out of the backfield, since a smart user defender can undercut the route before it turns upfield and take away the biggest explosive play threat. Look for disguised blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the wheel and dig both take time to develop and a fast pressure package can force a quick checkdown or sack before the routes mature.
Usage Tips
Motion the reload back pre-snap and watch how the defense adjusts, if a linebacker or safety follows the motion man across the formation you are almost certainly facing man coverage and the wheel route becomes your primary target.
Hot route the backside comeback into a hitch or speed out if you see a corner sitting hard on top of the sideline, since the wheel needs a clean lane up the boundary to be effective.
Use this play on early downs or second and medium situations where defenses are more likely to sit in base coverage shells rather than disguised blitz packages, since the wheel takes time to develop.
Pair this play with Reload PA Shake Bubble or Reload HB Sweep in the same set to keep the defense guessing on backfield motion, since both plays use similar pre-snap movement but attack differently.
If the middle of the field is clogged by underneath zone defenders, look immediately to the dig route crossing over the middle before the wheel has time to fully develop.
