Playbooks

Mtn Drive Wheel

Shotgun·Tight Open·11
WheelDriveMotionPass PlayCover 4 BeaterPostDragCrosserInSwing
Play diagram for Mtn Drive Wheel from Shotgun Tight Open in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

Giants OffenseOffenseNFL Live Giants OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Mtn Drive Wheel is a play-action style pass concept out of Shotgun Tight Open with 11 personnel, built to attack Cover 4 and other deep zone shells. The backfield runs a wheel route from the flat up the sideline while the slot receiver executes a drive route underneath (in-cut across the middle), the outside receiver on that side clears vertically up the seam, and the third receiver runs a short out breaking toward the sideline to hold underneath defenders. The primary read starts with the wheel route attacking the boundary defender and safety leverage, then works to the drive route as the safety valve underneath if the wheel is capped.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the cornerback aligned over the wheel route runner is playing outside leverage, which signals man coverage and a bigger wheel window down the sideline. Check safety depth on the wheel side before the snap, a deep half safety sitting at 10 plus yards suggests Cover 4 or Cover 2 and favors the wheel route beating underneath defenders. Post-snap, watch for a linebacker or nickel defender sinking into the drive route lane, if he stays shallow the wheel is your answer, if he vacates to the sideline the drive route opens up. This play struggles against man coverage with a physical linebacker or safety assigned to the wheel route runner in the backfield, since they can disrupt the release before the route develops. Watch for a Cover 3 buzz rotation where the flat defender widens quickly, this can jump the wheel route early and force you to check down to the drive route or out route instead.

Usage Tips

Motion the backfield player into the flat before the snap to get a clean release on the wheel and confirm if the defense follows in man coverage.

If the deep safety on the wheel side stays home in a Cover 4 look, work the drive route immediately since the underneath defenders will be occupied by the out route and vertical clearout.

Use this play on second and medium or third and short situations where defenses are more likely to sit in zone shells rather than bring pressure.

Pair Mtn Drive Wheel with Mtn Curls Out N Up or Mtn Spot N Go from the same set to keep defenders guessing between wheel routes and quick game concepts.

Hot route the out route runner into a flat route if you see a linebacker sitting directly in the drive route window to create an easier checkdown.

Other Plays in Tight Open