Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Post Wheel Drag out of Shotgun Tight Y Off Wk lines up in 11 personnel with the TE releasing on a wheel route up the sideline, the outside receiver running a deep post over the middle, the backside WR working a drag underneath, and the slot receiver on the opposite side running a deep comeback/out breaking back toward the sideline. The HB stays in to help pass protect while the offensive line sets up a standard pocket. This is a man beater at its core, using the post to attack a single high safety and the wheel to isolate a linebacker or safety on the TE in space, with the drag serving as a quick underneath answer against zone drops. Primary progression is post first, wheel second, drag as the checkdown against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment, if you see one deep safety rotate to help over the post, drop your underneath defender wide enough to also wall off the drag route. Key the TE at the snap, if he releases vertically up the sideline, get a linebacker or safety to sink with him immediately rather than sitting flat, since the wheel route is designed to punish late reactions. Watch for the drag route crossing the field early, a spy linebacker or user controlled defender sitting in the shallow zone can jump this route for a pick six against aggressive quarterbacks. Cover 3 with a hard buzz to the flat can take away both the wheel and drag simultaneously, forcing the quarterback into the post window where a rangy free safety in single high alignment can contest the throw. Bring pressure with a nano blitz off the edge to disrupt the quarterback's timing before the post route breaks, since this route combo requires a clean pocket and a full three step progression.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense shows single high or two high safeties, since the post route only opens up versus one deep defender.
If you see man coverage indicators like the corner mirroring the slot receiver's alignment, prioritize the wheel route to attack a linebacker who cannot stay in phase with the TE up the sideline.
Against zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4, hot route the drag into a deeper crossing route or use it as your first read since the underneath zone defenders will be occupied by the post and wheel stretching the field vertically.
Use this play on second and medium or third and long situations where you need a explosive gain, then follow it up with Smash Drag or Slot Cross from the same set to keep the defense guessing between vertical shots and quick game.
Combine this with PA Cheat Wheel Post as a play-action complement to sell the same route combination with extra time in the pocket against aggressive linebacker blitzes.
