Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mesh HB Wheel out of Shotgun Tight Offset TE lines up two receivers to the left and one to the right along with the HB, and the diagram shows a classic mesh concept crossing underneath while the HB wheels out of the backfield. The two left receivers cross tightly at the same depth to create natural rubs against man coverage, one settling on a shallow drag back toward the middle while the other clears out deep to the opposite sideline. On the right, the HB releases outside then turns the corner upfield on a wheel route, working for leverage against a linebacker or slot defender who tries to carry him vertically. This is a man beater built around the mesh traffic to spring the wheel route as the primary read, with the shallow crosser as the underneath checkdown against a soft zone shell.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify who is aligned over the HB out of the backfield, if it is a linebacker in man coverage the wheel route is a near automatic win once he gets picked off by the mesh. Watch for a deep safety rotating over the top of the wheel side, that indicates a two high shell designed to take away the vertical threat and force the quarterback into the shallow crosser. Key the mesh crossers post-snap, if underneath defenders trail tightly through the traffic instead of sitting in zone, that confirms man coverage and the wheel should be the immediate answer. Look for a user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow zone, a smart defender will bait the drag route then jump the throwing lane, so do not force that check down if you see a defender sitting. Disguised blitzes with the slot defender crashing the edge can disrupt the wheel route timing before it develops, if the box shows extra pressure to the HB side, expect the quarterback to need a quick answer or hot route.
Usage Tips
Check the pre-snap alignment of the slot defender or linebacker over your HB, if he is playing tight man with no help over the top the wheel route is going to win almost every time.
Use the mesh crossers to occupy underneath defenders and create natural picks, this is what buys the HB the extra half second to turn the corner on the wheel.
Against zone shells, work the shallow drag first since the mesh traffic creates soft spots underneath, then progress to the wheel if a linebacker gets caught in the wash.
This play pairs well with HB Draw and HB Slip Screen in the same set since all three attack defenders who key on the backfield too aggressively, keep those in your call sheet to punish overpursuit.
Best called on early downs or in man coverage tendencies, avoid third and long situations where a spy or deep safety can sit on the wheel route.
