Playbooks
Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.
| Player | Side | Route |
|---|---|---|
| HB2 | Right | Swing |
| WR1 | Left | Post |
| WR2 | Left | Wheel |
| TE1 | Right | In |
Mtn Fk Screen Wheel is a fake screen concept out of Shotgun Split Twins Offset Close designed to punish overaggressive defenses that key on screen action. The play sells a running back screen to one side while releasing a receiver or second back on a wheel route up the sideline, using the fake screen blocking to hold linebackers and second level defenders in the flat for a beat. The primary read progression starts with the fake screen action to see if the defense bites, then works immediately to the wheel route for the explosive play if a linebacker or safety flows down or steps up on the screen fake. This is a man beater and zone beater hybrid built to attack defenders who overreact to screen action, particularly effective against user linebackers who jump the flat.
Watch the play side linebacker and nickel defender immediately after the snap, if they crash toward the fake screen action and turn their shoulders away from the wheel release, the sideline is wide open for a big gain. Check pre-snap safety alignment, a single high safety shell with linebackers at aggressive depth signals man coverage or a blitz package that is vulnerable to the wheel route beating a linebacker in man coverage. Cover 3 sink and match zone shells with disciplined linebackers who stay square and read the backfield will not bite the fake, keep the flat covered, and force you to check down or take a minimal gain. Look for a user controlled linebacker or safety flashing toward the line of scrimmage or the screen side, that lurk defender leaving his zone or man assignment is exactly the key that tells you the wheel route will come open deep. Man coverage with no safety help over the top on the wheel side is the ultimate green light, if the corner or linebacker assigned to the back bites on the screen fake even for a half second, the route wins outright.
Use this play when you have already shown a real screen or swing concept earlier in the drive, since defenders who got burned or baited on Mtn HB Swing or Mtn Lead Swing Spot are primed to jump this fake screen action.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is in a two-high shell with linebackers sitting at normal depth, since aggressive linebacker depth or a shown blitz look increases the chance they crash the fake screen and open up the wheel.
Hot route the underneath checkdown option to a quick out or flat route if you see a spy or a linebacker sitting still, since the wheel needs the linebacker to bite to fully clear.
This play hits best on second and medium to second and long or third and medium, situations where defenses expect a quick underneath completion and are willing to sell out on run support or screen recognition.
Pair this call in sequence after Inside Zone or HB Toss Lt to build run and screen tendency, then dial up Mtn Fk Screen Wheel once the defense starts flowing hard to the perimeter or crashing down on backfield action.