Playbooks

Fake Screen Wheel

Shotgun·Trips·10
Play ActionScreen PassWheelPass Play
Play diagram for Fake Screen Wheel from Shotgun Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 4 playbooks

Franchise College Spread OffenseOffenseAir Raid Classic OffenseOffenseAir Raid OffenseOffenseSpread Classic

Breakdown

Fake Screen Wheel is a play-action screen play out of Shotgun Trips that disguises a wheel route as a bubble screen to the outside slot receiver. At the snap the outside trips receiver sells a quick screen look then breaks vertically up the sideline on the wheel, while the middle trips receiver runs a shallow drag underneath to bait linebackers into jumping the fake screen action. The backside single receiver runs a straight vertical release to stretch the defense and hold the deep half safety, and the primary read progression starts with the wheel route for the big play, then works down to the shallow drag if the corner sits on top of the wheel.

Defensive Reads

Pre snap check for two high safeties versus single high, since single high leaves the wheel route defender isolated with less deep help Watch the flat defender and any linebacker assigned to screen contain, aggressive screen defenders that flow hard to the fake will get beat deep by the wheel Man coverage on the trips side is where this play hits hardest because the wheel route defender has no help once he bites on the screen fake Zone coverage with a disciplined cornerback sitting on the flat and reading quarterback eyes can sink under the wheel and force the checkdown to the drag route Blitz packages that send extra rushers but keep coverage rules intact can be a problem, since a hot blitz forces a quick throw before the wheel fully develops User controlled defenders who stay disciplined and do not bite on the screen action will erase this play, so this works best against CPU or user defenders keying run and screen action aggressively

Usage Tips

Use this play against defenses that are showing aggressive flat or screen defenders since the wheel exploits linebackers and corners who jump the underneath action

Look pre snap for corners playing tight bump technique on the trips side, that alignment usually means they will bite on the screen fake and get beat over the top

This is a great money play on second and long or third and medium when defenders are conditioned to respect the run or quick game and will crash down on the fake

Pair this with actual screen plays like HB Slip Screen or WR Mid Screen earlier in a series so defenders start keying screen action and are primed to bite on the fake

Hot route the backside single receiver into a deep post if you see single high safety coverage to further isolate the wheel route defender

Snap the ball quickly after the pre snap read to prevent the defense from rotating a safety over to the trips side before the wheel route develops

Other Plays in Trips