Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Cross DBL Wheel out of Shotgun Split Offset features two crossing routes over the middle and a wheel route out of the backfield or slot that bends up the sideline, plus a deep vertical release from the backside outside receiver. The near slot runs a crosser that settles underneath while the inside receiver cuts across the field on a deeper crossing route, and the flat man turns his route upfield into a wheel to attack the boundary once the underneath defenders flow inside. This is a man beater built around natural picks from the crossing routes, with the wheel serving as the home run answer against man coverage that bites on the initial flat action, so the primary read progression starts with the shallow crosser, works to the deep crosser, and finishes on the wheel route up the sideline.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check the corner over the receiver running the wheel route: if he is playing tight man technique with no help over the top, the wheel is live and should be your first key post-snap. Watch the linebacker depth at the snap; if the underneath defender chases the crossing routes flat-footed instead of staying square, he will not be able to recover on the wheel. Post-snap, identify any deep safety rotating over the top of the slot or numbers, because a two-high shell or a defender sinking into that wheel lane shuts down the vertical answer and forces you to live on the crossers. Look for user-controlled defenders lurking in the shallow crossing lane, since a smart user will sit on the underneath crosser and bait the quarterback into a turnover if the wheel is covered. Against zone coverage, especially Cover 3 or Cover 4, the crossing routes become the primary answer since zone defenders will typically pass off the wheel route to the deep third or quarter defender.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at the slot corner alignment to confirm man coverage before committing to the wheel route as your first read.
If you see a linebacker or safety flowing hard with the flat runner, immediately reset your eyes to the wheel because the defender is likely to lose the angle once the route turns vertical.
Hot route the backside outlet or use a hot route to check the deep crosser into a shorter option against tight coverage if you need a faster underneath answer on third and short.
Pair this play with Y Shallow Cross or Slot Cross earlier in a drive so defenders start jumping the initial crossing action, then hit the wheel later in the sequence for an explosive play.
Best called on second or third and medium to long when you need a defense to declare man coverage, since zone shells will have a defender sitting on the wheel lane.
