Playbooks

PA Wheel

Shotgun·Slot Right·11
Play ActionWheelPass Play
Play diagram for PA Wheel from Shotgun Slot Right in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 5 playbooks

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Breakdown

PA Wheel out of Shotgun Slot Right uses play-action to hold the linebackers before releasing the backfield player on a wheel route up the sideline, shown by the red route breaking outside then vertical for the deep shot. The two inside receivers run a deep crossing route to the opposite hash and a corner breaking route that both work toward the middle of the field, while the outside receiver runs a shallow drag to hold underneath defenders. This is a play-action man beater that attacks off coverage and linebackers who bite on the run fake, with the wheel route as the primary read against man coverage and the deep cross as the answer versus zone drops.

Defensive Reads

Check the flat defender and outside linebacker depth pre-snap, since a shallow alignment signals they can undercut the wheel route out of the backfield. Watch for safety rotation post-snap, as a single high safety rolling to the wheel side takes away the deep shot and forces you to the crossing route. This play struggles against zone blitzes that bring the flat defender upfield immediately, since the wheel route has no time to develop before the backfield player is pressured. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the ideal shell to attack, especially if the linebacker covering the backfield player has poor closing speed. Lurk defenders sitting in the middle of the field can jump the deep cross, so if you see a user-controlled defender hanging in that throwing lane, reset to the wheel or the drag underneath.

Usage Tips

Sell the run fake by letting the animation play out before moving to your read, since bailing out early tips off zone defenders and kills the wheel route window.

Use this on early downs like first or second and short when defenses are more likely to bite on the play-action fake and load the box.

If you see man coverage or a linebacker walked up over the backfield player pre-snap, key the wheel route immediately since it is your best matchup against slower defenders.

Pair this with Y Lead Read Opt 1 or Read Option earlier in a series to condition the defense to respect the run action, making the wheel route hit even harder later in the drive.

Hot route the shallow drag receiver to a hitch or streak if you diagnose Cover 3 so you have a quick answer versus a hard flat defender jumping the wheel.

Other Plays in Slot Right