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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Jet PA HB Wheel is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Trio 11 personnel that uses jet motion across the backfield to freeze linebackers before the quarterback fakes the handoff. Off the fake, the HB releases out of the backfield on a wheel route up the sideline while the two outside receivers push vertical up the seams, and the TE runs a shallow drag underneath from the opposite side crossing the formation. The primary read progression starts with the wheel route against man coverage or a blown assignment, then works to the two vertical seam routes if the HB gets picked up, with the underneath drag as a checkdown against a soft zone shell.
Defensive Reads
Man coverage on the HB out of the backfield is the biggest tell that the wheel route will win, especially if a linebacker or slower defender is matched up Watch for a flat defender or cornerback sitting outside who can jump the wheel route early, this is the primary defender that shuts the play down in zone Check safety depth before the snap, two deep safeties who stay home can double the seam routes and take away the second read User controlled defenders lurking near the sideline flat area are the biggest threat, spy that defender through your fake before committing to the wheel Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can disrupt the play-action fake timing, if you see an overload blitz look to get the ball out quickly on the underneath drag
Usage Tips
Use the jet motion pre-snap to identify man versus zone, if a defender follows the motion man across the formation you are getting man coverage and the wheel route is live
Call this on early downs when linebackers are aggressive against the run, the play-action freeze creates natural separation on the HB wheel against overpursuing LBs
Hot route the backside seam runner into a deeper post if you see two high safeties bailing out to help over the top on the wheel
Pair this with HB Off Tackle or Inside Zone earlier in a series so the defense respects the run fake and bites harder on the play-action
Use in first and second and medium situations where defenses are willing to sell out against the run, avoid third and long shells with heavy zone drops that can flood the wheel lane
