Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Cheat Wheel Post is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Split Close Pro with 21 personnel that hides a wheel route out of the backfield behind a hard-selling run fake. Off the snap, the diagram shows the fullback releasing on a wheel up the right sideline, a slot receiver working a deep post that crosses the field, a tight end running a quick out that turns upfield, and a receiver on the far side sitting on an underneath drag. The blocking picks up the play-action fake to freeze linebackers while the wheel route stretches the defense vertically, making the primary read the wheel against man coverage and the post as the deep zone-beating alternative.
Defensive Reads
Check pre-snap safety alignment: if both safeties are deep in a two high shell, the post route has to split the defenders while the wheel becomes the primary answer against man coverage on the outside. Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the play-action fake this leaves a wide throwing lane for the post route sitting in the vacated middle zone. Identify man coverage by looking for a linebacker or defensive back shadowing the fullback out of the backfield, since a clean release into the wheel route against man leverage is a near automatic explosive play. This concept struggles against zone coverage with a robber or lurk defender sitting in the intermediate middle, since that defender can undercut the post route before it develops. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can disrupt the play-action timing before the wheel route develops, so check the offensive line count and be ready to check to a quick game concept if the defense shows an overload look.
Usage Tips
Motion the fullback pre-snap if available to check for man coverage since a linebacker or safety following the motion confirms man and opens up the wheel route for an explosive gain.
Sell the play-action fake by holding the ball fake button timing tight to the line so the linebackers bite and vacate the middle for the post route to sit down behind them.
Use this play on second and medium or third and long when defenses expect a run based on personnel and formation tendencies, since the play-action freeze is most effective when defenders are keying run.
If the cornerback shows outside leverage or a squat zone look, hot route the drag route into a deeper crossing route to attack the vacated middle of the field.
Pair this call with Cheat FB Power O or Inside Zone Split earlier in a drive to establish the run tendency out of this formation, then hit PA Cheat Wheel Post once linebackers start creeping up on run fakes.
