Playbooks

Mesh Post Wheel

Shotgun·Split Y-Flex·21
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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Mesh Post Wheel out of Shotgun Split Y-Flex combines a classic mesh concept underneath with a post and wheel route stacked on top, giving you answers against both man and zone coverage. The two shallow crossers create natural traffic to rub off man defenders while the post occupies the deep middle defender and the wheel route attacks the flat-to-deep sideline for a big play against man coverage or blown assignments. Blocking stays in max protect with the extra back available to check release, so your primary read progression starts with the wheel route for an explosive shot, works down to the post if the safety bites on the mesh, and finishes with the mesh crossers underneath as the checkdown against zone drops.

Defensive Reads

Check the cornerback aligned over the wheel route release, if he is playing tight man technique with no help over the top this play is live for an explosive gain. Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, a shallow drop or blitz look means he cannot carry the wheel route and will get exposed in space. Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, single high defenses are more vulnerable to the post since there is only one deep defender to beat. If the defense shows a nano blitz or shows extra rushers off the edge, the mesh crossers become your answer since the hot route sit down beats blitz packages by getting the ball out fast. Beware of Cover 3 with a hard flat defender sitting in the wheel route lane, this coverage shell can undercut the route and bait a costly interception if you force the throw.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a quick alert to see if the defense shifts to trigger man coverage, since the wheel route is a certified man beater against linebackers and slower corners who cannot stay on top of the route.

If you see a two-high safety shell, key the post route first because the mesh traffic underneath will hold the linebackers and open a throwing lane before the safety can rotate over.

Hot route the mesh runners to sit down against zone heavy defenses like Tampa 2 or Cover 3, turning this into a zone beater with quick underneath completions instead of forcing the deep shots.

Pair this play with Mesh or Y Shallow Cross earlier in a series so the defense starts keying the mesh concept, then hit them with the wheel route out of the same look for an explosive gain.

Best called on third and medium to long or in red zone situations where the defense is more likely to play man coverage, since the wheel route needs one on one matchups to hit for six.

Other Plays in Split Y-Flex