Playbooks

Wheel Inside Curl

Shotgun·Tight·11
CurlWheelPass Play
Play diagram for Wheel Inside Curl from Shotgun Tight in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

Wheel Inside Curl out of Shotgun Tight 11 personnel sends both outside receivers on inside breaking routes that cross underneath while the backside slot runs a vertical seam up the numbers. The HB releases out of the backfield on a wheel route up the sideline, working from a flat stem into a vertical wheel that stretches the flat defender and safety over the top. This is a man beater built to create a natural pick with the crossing routes while the wheel exploits any linebacker or safety in man coverage who cannot stay on top of the HB, with the primary read progressing from the wheel route first, then working back to the inside curl and the vertical seam.

Defensive Reads

Identify the flat defender pre-snap, whether it is a linebacker, slot corner or safety, since that defender's ability to cover the wheel route determines if this concept hits Watch for man coverage indicators like tight cornerback alignment and safeties shaded to one side, which signal the wheel route can win over the top Zone shells with a curl-flat defender who sinks and reads the quarterback's eyes will squeeze the inside curl and take away the shorter completion Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with deep safety help over the top can bracket the wheel route, so check for two deep safeties before committing to that read Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can disrupt the timing of the wheel release, so recognize pressure early and be ready to check down to the vertical seam route

Usage Tips

Motion the HB or check the flat defender pre-snap to confirm if a linebacker or safety has man responsibility on the wheel route, since that mismatch is the whole point of this concept

Use this play on third and medium to third and long when defenses are more likely to play man coverage with underneath help

If the defense shows zone shell with a flat defender sitting, hot route the inside curl runner to sit down quicker or work the vertical seam route as your first read instead of forcing the wheel

Pair this play with Curl Flat or Stick from the same set to keep defenses guessing between quick underneath throws and the delayed wheel release

Take a play fake or hard count before the snap to bait linebackers into creeping up, which opens more separation for the HB wheel against man coverage

Other Plays in Tight