Playbooks

Fake Jet Y Wheel

Shotgun·Normal Y Off Close·11
Play ActionWheelMotionPass PlayPostSwing

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 20 playbooks

Bills OffenseOffenseChargers OffenseOffenseDolphins OffenseOffenseEagles OffenseOffenseFalcons OffenseOffenseRaiders OffenseOffenseRams OffenseOffenseRavens OffenseOffenseRedskins OffenseOffenseTexans OffenseOffenseNFL Live Bills OffenseOffenseNFL Live Chargers OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Fake Jet Y Wheel is a play-action deep shot built off jet motion misdirection out of the Shotgun Normal Y Off Close set. The jet sweep fake forces linebackers and safeties to bite downhill on the run action, opening a window for the Y (TE) to release on a wheel route up the sideline, while the underneath routes provide man beater options against aggressive coverage. This is a play-action pass, and the primary read progression starts with the wheel route for an explosive gain, then works down to the intermediate crossers or flat routes if the wheel is capped by a deep safety rotating over the top.

Defensive Reads

Watch linebacker depth at the snap: if they step up hard on the jet motion fake, the wheel route from the TE will have a clean release against a vacated flat zone. Identify single high safety shells (Cover 1 or Cover 3) as the ideal shell to attack since the flow defender chasing the fake often loses the TE on the wheel. Post-snap, track any user controlled defender who stays home on the TE or shows lurk instincts in the intermediate zone, since that is the biggest threat to jumping the wheel route. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with disciplined safeties who do not bite on the fake can sit on the wheel and force you to check down to the shorter options. Look for blitz packages that send extra pressure off the edge, since the play-action fake can slow the offensive line's ability to pick up late pressure and force an early throw.

Usage Tips

Use this play on early downs or in second and short situations so the jet sweep fake actually holds the linebackers and forces a run fit before they can bail into coverage.

Check the safety alignment before the snap: if you see a single high safety shaded to the wheel side or two deep safeties who can rotate late, be ready to move off the wheel and progress to the underneath option.

Hot route the backside receiver into a quick slant or drag if you diagnose man coverage pre-snap, giving you a quick answer if the wheel gets jumped by a flowing linebacker.

Pair this call with RPO Peek Spot or RPO Alert Out earlier in a drive so the defense starts keying run action on jet motion, which sets up the eventual explosive wheel shot.

Against teams that user the TE in man coverage, look to bait the user defender with the jet fake before releasing the wheel, since the natural instinct is to crash down on the sweep action.

Other Plays in Normal Y Off Close