Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 16 playbooks
Breakdown
Fake Jet Y Wheel is a play-action wheel route concept out of Shotgun 11 personnel that uses jet motion to freeze the defense and manipulate second level defenders. The jet fake sells run action and draws linebacker eyes, opening a wheel route from the Y (TE) that stresses defenders assigned to cover the flat to deep third. This is a man beater first and foremost since the wheel route exploits linebackers and slower defenders in man coverage who cannot stay on top of the vertical break, but it can also pick up chunk yardage against zone coverage if the flat defender bites on the jet fake. The primary read progression starts with the jet fake and flat area to hold linebackers, then works to the Y wheel as the first read, and finally checks down to any underneath crosser or the running back if the wheel is blanketed.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense shows man coverage indicators like cornerbacks in press or linebackers cheating to the TE side, since this play thrives against man match concepts. Look at flat defender alignment and depth, if the flat defender or outside linebacker is shaded to jump the jet motion, the Y wheel window opens up immediately behind him. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker or nickel defender for lurk behavior, a user controlled lurk defender sitting on the wheel route can jump the throw if the quarterback stares it down too long. Two high safety shells with disciplined zone drops are the toughest coverage to beat with this play since the deep safety can rotate over the top of the wheel before it develops. Watch for a delayed blitz off the edge from the jet motion side, since the fake can cause protection issues if the offensive line does not account for an extra rusher crashing down after the run fake.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs like first or second and medium when defenses are more likely to sit in base personnel and bite on the jet motion fake.
Check the flat defender and the second level linebacker depth before the snap, if they cheat toward the jet motion side you have a green light to hit the Y wheel immediately after the play fake animation.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or slant to give yourself a rhythm throw if the wheel is blanketed by a deep safety rotating over the top.
Pair this play with RPO Peek Stick or RPO Alert Out from the same set so the defense has to respect both the run action and the RPO reads, making the wheel fake even more effective once you have established tempo.
Avoid throwing the wheel into two high safety shells unless you have already drawn the flat defender with previous jet motion reps, since a deep safety with good eyes can undercut the route.
