Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Fake Screen Wheel out of Shotgun Trey Y-Flex is a play-action screen concept designed to look like a bubble or HB screen before releasing a wheel route up the sideline. The trips side shows two vertical seam/go routes clearing out the deep middle and outside thirds while the boundary receiver fakes a screen block before wheeling up the numbers behind the fake, punishing defenders who jump the screen action. This is primarily a man beater since the wheel route exploits linebackers or slot corners who bite on the screen fake and lose leverage, and the primary read progression starts with the wheel route out of the fake screen, then works to the two vertical routes on the trips side if the wheel is capped.
Defensive Reads
Watch for defenders flowing hard toward the line of scrimmage immediately after the snap, since that confirms they are biting the screen fake and opening up the wheel. Check the trips side pre-snap for two deep safeties versus one, since single high shells leave the seam and wheel route matched up favorably against linebackers. If the defense shows Cover 2 or Cover 4 with corners staying deep and outside leverage on the boundary receiver, the wheel route will be capped and you should progress to the vertical routes on the trips side. Post-snap, key the flat defender or curl to flat linebacker, if they stay home on the wheel instead of biting the screen fake, look to reset and check down. Beware of user-controlled linebackers or nickel defenders who key the running back protection and sit on the wheel route, since disciplined man coverage or a strong lurk defender shuts this play down.
Usage Tips
Call this play when the defense has shown aggressive screen recognition or has a linebacker spying the flat on early downs.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is in man coverage by checking for a corner or linebacker shaded tight over the boundary receiver, since that alignment sets up the wheel to break wide open.
Use motion or a hard play fake with the running back to sell the screen action longer and freeze underneath defenders before the wheel route stems upfield.
Pair this with HB Slip Screen or RPO Alert Out earlier in a drive so the defense over pursues screen action, then hit them with this wheel route counter for an explosive play.
Best used on first or second down in medium yardage situations where defenses are more willing to sell out against run or screen action.
