Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Fk Screen Wheel is a play-action screen concept out of Shotgun Wing Slot Wk with fake motion built into the backfield action to hold linebackers before the throw. The diagram shows a fake to the near side (yellow route sitting flat then breaking upfield as a deep comeback read), a wheel route climbing vertically up the sideline from the backfield, and a crossing route working underneath to the opposite flat. The line shows the QB stepping up under center-like action before working through his progression, with the primary read starting on the wheel route matched against a linebacker or safety before working back to the underneath crosser as a checkdown. This is a play-action screen and man beater designed to exploit linebackers who bite on the run fake or chase the fake screen action.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the strong safety is creeping into the box, which signals run support and opens up the wheel route matchup against a slower linebacker. Post-snap, key the flow of the linebackers: if they crash hard toward the fake action, the wheel route will be wide open vertically down the sideline. Cover 3 and Cover 1 shells with aggressive linebacker blitzes are most vulnerable here since the wheel route exploits the vacated flat and seam. Watch for a user-controlled defender sitting in a shallow zone or spying the backfield, as this is the primary lurk threat that can jump both the crosser and the wheel route. Disciplined zone defenses like Cover 4 or Cover 2 that keep linebackers at proper depth and refuse to bite on the fake will take away the wheel read and force the QB to the underneath checkdown.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs when the defense expects run based on your personnel grouping and formation tendencies.
Watch for linebackers cheating up prior to the snap, since that confirms they are keyed on the play-action fake and will open the wheel route for an explosive gain.
Hot route the underneath crosser into a deeper sit route against zone shells if you see two-high safeties sitting soft, giving your QB an easier zone beater option.
Pair this call with Mtn Read Option or Mtn Buck Sweep earlier in a series to sell the same backfield action, then hit this play-action screen once the defense starts flowing hard to stop the run.
Against aggressive man coverage teams that blitz off the edge, get the ball out on the quick wheel route before the protection breaks down, since the screen action naturally slows initial pass rush recognition.
