Playbooks

Mtn Stick Wheel

Shotgun·Split Slot Offset·20
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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Mtn Stick Wheel out of Shotgun Split Slot Offset is a man beater built around a wheel route breaking off the stick concept to attack cornerbacks and linebackers in trail technique. The stick routes underneath occupy the shallow zone or hold linebackers in man coverage, clearing space for the wheel man to accelerate up the sideline as he breaks vertical. Primary read progression starts with the wheel route against man coverage or a blown assignment, then works down to the stick and flat combination if the wheel is capped by a safety over the top.

Defensive Reads

Identify if the slot defender is aligned in press or soft man technique since press alignment on the wheel runner signals a strong chance he gets picked or beat off the line. Watch the safety rotation post-snap, if the deep safety rotates toward the wheel side immediately the shot play is likely dead and you should progress to the stick or flat option. Look for linebackers sitting on the stick route in zone coverage, this usually means the underlying concept is covered and the wheel becomes your only real answer. Beware Cover 3 cloud or Cover 4 quarters shells with the corner reading wheel routes, these shut down the vertical break and force a checkdown. Man coverage with a single high safety and no underneath help from a nickel defender is the ideal shell to attack, since the wheel runner can outrun a trailing linebacker or slower corner.

Usage Tips

Check the slot corner or nickel alignment pre-snap because Mtn Stick Wheel wins hardest when that defender is playing man coverage with no safety help over the top.

Motion check the defense before the snap to confirm if the defender assigned to the wheel route runner is following in man or staying put in zone, this tells you whether to go directly to your first read.

Use this play on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage since the wheel is a low percentage but explosive shot if it hits, and the stick underneath keeps you on schedule if it does not.

Pair this call with Mtn RPO Peek Stick or Mtn Y Stick earlier in a series so the defense sees the stick concept repeatedly and starts jumping the short routes, then hit them with the wheel breakout for a big play.

If the defense shows zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4, hot route the wheel runner into a shorter option or peek to the stick side instead of forcing the deep wheel into a flooded sideline.

Other Plays in Split Slot Offset