Playbooks

Fake Jet HB Wheel

Shotgun·Spread Y-Flex·11

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSpread Y-Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Fake Jet HB Wheel is a play-action style misdirection concept out of the Spread Y-Flex Shotgun package that sells jet motion across the formation before releasing the running back on a wheel route out of the backfield. The jet fake pulls linebacker and safety eyes toward the motion man, creating a natural window for the HB wheel to work up the sideline against man coverage, while the rest of the route combo occupies underneath zone defenders as secondary options. This is primarily a man beater designed to exploit linebackers and slot corners who bite on the jet action or try to carry the HB in man match, with the primary read progression starting on the HB wheel matchup and working back to the shorter zone beating routes if the wheel is capped.

Defensive Reads

Pre snap, identify if the defense is showing single high or two high safety alignment, single high with the corner playing outside leverage on the slot receiver is the shell most vulnerable to the wheel route. Watch the strong side linebacker's depth and run fit discipline, if he steps up hard to defend the jet action instead of sinking with the HB, the wheel route wins immediately down the sideline. Post snap, track any user controlled defender who abandons the flat to lurk underneath routes, that lurk threat can be baited by the play fake but still recovers in time to disrupt a slower developing wheel. This play struggles against zone coverages with a flat defender who stays disciplined and sinks with the HB out of the backfield, since he can undercut the wheel before it turns vertical. Cover 3 with an aggressive curl to flat defender and a deep third corner who reads run first can be a tough shell, since that combination takes away both the shallow outlet and the vertical wheel window.

Usage Tips

Use this play when you have already shown real jet sweep or jet action earlier in the drive so the defense has film to respect the fake, since that hesitation is what actually springs the wheel route open.

Key the slot cornerback and the strong side linebacker before the snap, if either is aligned tight to the jet man's path expecting run support you have a green light to trust the wheel route immediately off the play fake.

Hot route the underneath options into quick option or spot routes if you see a two high shell rolling down post snap, that keeps the play alive as a zone beater when the wheel is blanketed.

This is an ideal call on second and medium or first down after you have already run Mtn HB Swing or HB Slip Screen from this set, since defenders start flowing hard to the flat and jet sweep tendencies, setting up the wheel to break wide open behind that pursuit.

Avoid calling this into aggressive blitz looks with no safety help over the top unless you have a fast HB, since a free rusher can collapse the pocket before the wheel route stretches vertically.