Playbooks
At a Glance
In 1 playbook
Overview
Wide Doubles Y Off WK is the wildcat variant of the Wide Doubles family, and that single detail changes everything about how you attack from it. Instead of a quarterback taking the snap, the set puts a skill player (typically the running back or a slot receiver depending on your depth chart) in the gun with the quarterback aligned off the formation as the "WK" walk player. The base alignment keeps the two-receiver stacks wide on both sides with the tight end offset, which means you still get true 2x2 spacing horizontally while the walk player threatens the edge on jet and sweep tracks. Defenses have to decide whether to count the walk player as a real threat, and that decision determines whether your run game has an extra blocker or your pass game has an extra body in the concept.
Strengths
- RPO Alert plays (Power Hitches, Buck Sweep, Counter) give you a single pre-snap read: count the box, hand it off against light fronts, throw the alert hitch or glance against stacked fronts without having to commit before the snap
- The wide doubles alignment forces the defense to align wide, which thins the box and makes Power G and RPO Alert Power downhill runs hit for chunk yardage against nickel and dime personnel
- PA Walk Glance N Go and PA Walk Choice Levels use the walk motion to pull second level defenders horizontally, then attack the vacated hole shot behind them, which is a clean zone beater versus Cover 3 and single high match
- Stacked receivers on both sides naturally defeat press man because the outside man cannot get hands on the stack release, so hot routing the inside stack receiver to a slant or drag creates rub action without any motion required
- Play action Counter concepts (PA Counter Slide, PA Counter Post Curls) sell the same guard pull footwork as your Power G run, so committed run stoppers bite on the mesh and open the intermediate levels
Weaknesses
- The wildcat snap means your passer is almost never your quarterback, so throw power and accuracy ratings drop hard and any deep shot from the set is a low percentage attempt against a user controlled safety
- Pass protection is thin on play action because the walk player and offset tight end are often tracked into the concept, leaving the interior exposed to A gap nano blitz looks that get home before the play action animation resolves
- Elite users will simply ignore the walk player, keep their edge defender squeezed, and dare you to run into a loaded box, which neutralizes most of the RPO Alert read structure
- Heavy RPO and play action play art means slow developing plays with limited quick outs, so obvious blitz downs turn into sacks or forced throws underneath
- Using the set repeatedly telegraphs personnel substitutions in franchise online play, letting opponents call their run blitz or spread man look as soon as they see the wildcat alignment
Usage Tips
Read the box before the snap on every RPO Alert call: five or fewer in the box means hand it off, six or more means take the alert throw to the backside hitch or glance
Save this set for second and medium or third and short where the run threat is credible, because the personnel limitation makes it a poor choice on obvious passing downs
Hot route the inside stack receiver to a drag or slant on PA Walk Choice Levels to create a natural rub against man coverage, then user the outside receiver as your bail out if the defense plays soft zone
Alternate Power G and RPO Alert Power early to establish the downhill run, then come back with PA Counter Slide or PA Counter Post Curls once the linebackers start triggering forward
If you see a blitz indicator or heavy pressure look, check to a quick handoff concept rather than any play action call, since the protection in this set cannot absorb interior pressure
