Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Switch HB Wheel out of Shotgun Trips X Nasty sends the backside X on a deep vertical while the HB releases out of the backfield on a wheel route up the sideline, mirroring the switch release from the trips side where the outside WR runs a deep in and the two inside receivers cross underneath on a mesh style switch concept. The wheel and the switch release create natural picks against man coverage while the crossing routes give you an underneath answer versus zone drops. Primary progression starts with the HB wheel matched against a linebacker or nickel in man, then works to the switch crosser sitting down against zone, with the backside X vertical as a shot play checkdown if the coverage rotates away from him.
Defensive Reads
Check pre-snap for man coverage indicators like tight press alignment on the trips receivers, which signals the wheel and switch crossers should win their leverage battles. Watch the linebacker or nickel defender assigned to the HB out of the backfield, if he widens too fast the wheel is open deep down the sideline. Post-snap, track any user controlled lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field, since he can undercut the switch crossers if you stare down that route too long. Against zone shells, look for the flat defender to carry the wheel route, if he sinks late the throwing window still opens on the sideline before the safety can rotate over. Blitz heavy fronts with man coverage behind them are the biggest risk, since a free rusher can disrupt the timing on the wheel before it stacks vertically.
Usage Tips
Attack this play on early downs or second and medium when defenses are more likely to sit in base coverage and give you a favorable matchup on the HB wheel.
Pre-snap, identify whether a linebacker or safety is aligned over the HB, since a linebacker in man coverage is a guaranteed win once the wheel stacks him vertically.
If you see two high safeties, key the switch release crossers underneath since the deep wheel and backside vertical will be capped by the shell.
Hot route the underneath crossers to sit down versus zone if you diagnose Tampa 2 or Cover 3 sink drops post snap.
Pair this call with HB Slip Screen and HB Mid Draw from the same set to keep defenses honest on the HB and slow down aggressive blitz timing that jumps the wheel route.
