Playbooks
Breakdown
Stick Wheel out of Shotgun Trips features the trips side running a classic stick concept with the inside slot running a wheel route up the sideline, the outside receiver breaking on a corner route, and the middle stick receiver sitting down in the flat area for a quick option route. The backside X runs a deep dig across the field to give the quarterback a two-level answer if the trips side is jumped. This is primarily a man beater, since the wheel route is designed to exploit man coverage when a linebacker or slower defender tries to carry the slot receiver vertically, but the stick concept underneath also gives you a built-in answer versus zone drops. The primary read starts with the wheel route for a big play shot, works down to the stick or flat option if the wheel is covered, and finishes with the backside dig as a checkdown against a busted coverage look.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender and slot corner assignment pre-snap, if the defense is showing man coverage with a linebacker matched on the slot receiver, the wheel route will win most of the time. Post-snap, key on any user-controlled safety rotating over the top of the trips side, a rat in the hole or deep zone defender can undercut the wheel route and turn it into a pick six. This play struggles against Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells where the deep third or deep quarter defender sits over the wheel route and forces the quarterback to check down to the stick or flat route. Look for linebackers spying the middle of the field or dropping into the stick route's landing zone, since a zone defender sitting at the sticks can jump the underneath route and bait a throw. Nano blitzes or user blitzes off the edge can disrupt the wheel route's timing, so check protection assignments before the snap if you see extra rushers stacked near the line.
Usage Tips
Check the pre-snap alignment of the slot cornerback or nickel defender over your inside trips receiver, if he is playing tight man with no safety help over the top, the wheel route is live for a chunk play. Use the hot route menu to option the stick route into a corner route if you see zone coverage, this stresses the flat defender and safety at the same time. This play is money on third and medium to long since the stick concept gives you a quick answer while the wheel route threatens the sideline vertically. Pair this play with Stick and Slot Corner from the same set so the defense sees the same initial route distribution and cannot key on the wheel route breaking outside the tight formation look. Against blitz-heavy defenses, get the ball out quickly on the stick route since the wheel route takes longer to develop and the quarterback can get hit if the protection breaks down.
