Playbooks

Stick Wheel

Shotgun·Trips·10
WheelStickStick ConceptPass Play
Play diagram for Stick Wheel from Shotgun Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 8 playbooks

Franchise College Spread OffenseOffenseAir Raid Classic OffenseOffenseAir Raid OffenseOffenseBears OffenseOffenseBuccaneers OffenseOffenseShotgun MixNFL Live Bears OffenseOffenseNFL Live Buccaneers OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Stick Wheel out of Shotgun Trips (10 personnel) attacks the trips side with a layered stick concept while the backside receiver runs a solo route. Off the trips bunch, the outside receiver breaks vertical then works back to the sideline, the middle receiver runs the classic stick route settling in the flat/hook area, and the inside slot receiver wheels up the seam from the flat area, creating a natural pick and rub against man coverage. On the backside, the single receiver runs a quick out to give the QB an immediate release valve against soft corners or blitz looks. This is primarily a man beater built around the wheel route exploiting cornerback trail technique and linebacker mismatches, with the stick route as the first read and the wheel as the home run shot behind it.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check corner alignment on the trips side, since a corner playing outside leverage or bail technique struggles to carry the wheel route once traffic develops. Identify single high versus two high safety shells, because a single high safety rotating late to the trips side is late to help on the wheel, while two high shells with an overhang defender can squeeze the wheel window. Post-snap, watch the flat defender or nickel/linebacker assigned to the bunch, since if he sits on the stick route or gets picked by traffic, the wheel is wide open behind him. Zone coverages with disciplined pattern matching or a robber defender in the middle can undercut the stick route and force the QB to hold the ball longer, increasing sack risk. Look for man blitz packages that send extra rushers while leaving a linebacker isolated on the wheel route, since that mismatch is the biggest exploit for this concept.

Usage Tips

Read the flat defender pre-snap to decide between the stick route and the wheel route, since a wheel only wins if that defender bites on the underneath stick or bunch action.

Against man coverage, especially with a linebacker or slower corner matched on the wheel runner, trust the pick action from the trips bunch and throw the wheel on time before the safety can rotate over.

Use the backside out route as a quick answer versus blitz looks or when the trips side is jumped by aggressive zone defenders sitting on the stick and flat.

Sequence this play with Stick and Mtn Stick earlier in a drive so defenders start keying the underneath stick route, then punish overplayed flat defenders with the wheel for a big gain.

Best called on second and medium to third and long when defenses start shading toward the flat and hook areas, since the wheel route is designed to counter that exact leverage.

Other Plays in Trips