Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Cheat Slash Wheel Cross is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Tight Y Off with 11 personnel that stresses the field horizontally and vertically at the same time. The backside X runs a deep vertical while the slot runs a deep in cut across the middle, the TE off the line releases into a wheel route up the sideline out of the backfield alignment, the frontside slot runs a shallow drag across the field, and the outside WR runs an out breaking flag route. This is primarily a man beater built around the wheel and crosser combination creating natural rub traffic and picking off man defenders, though the deep in and drag also give it zone answers against soft coverage. The primary read progression starts with the wheel route for a leverage win against man coverage, then works to the deep crosser sitting down or running through the middle void, and finally checks down to the shallow drag as the underneath outlet.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, user the strong safety or nickel defender to the TE side since the wheel route is the primary explosive play threat and taking that away forces a check to the shorter routes. Watch for linebacker depth at the snap, if the linebackers sink hard to take away the deep in cut from the slot, the drag route underneath will be open in the void they create. Cover 3 with a deep third defender who can carry the wheel route vertically is the best shell to shut this play down, since it removes the primary answer and forces the quarterback into the crosser against trailing defenders. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the worst matchup for the defense, so if you see man alignment pre-snap, immediately key the TE release and be ready to trail or blow up the wheel route before it stems vertical. Post-snap, respect the shallow drag as a checkdown outlet on third and long, a user linebacker sitting in that throwing lane can bait the quarterback into a turnover if he forces the ball there under pressure.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing man or zone by checking linebacker depth and safety rotation, since the wheel route is your best answer versus man and the deep crosser is your best answer versus zone.
Use the TE wheel against linebackers or safeties in man coverage, especially if you see a nano blitz look pre-snap that forces a linebacker to cover the TE one on one out of the backfield.
Hot route the shallow drag into a quick out or speed out if you are facing a hard sink zone shell to give yourself an immediate rhythm throw and avoid holding the ball too long.
This play works best on second and medium to third and long situations because it takes time to develop, so protect the quarterback with a slide protection call if the offensive line count favors the defense.
Pair this play with Cheat RPO Zone Alert Bubble or RPO Peek Slant from the same set to keep the defense honest with quick game answers before dialing up this shot play against a predictable coverage tendency.
