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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Pats Drag Wheel is a trips based man beater out of Y Off Trips Close in Shotgun. The trips side runs a wheel route from the outside slot that climbs vertically after breaking outside, a corner route from the inside slot flashing to the flat before working upfield, and a deep post from the outside receiver that clears the top. On the backside, the single receiver runs a drag across the formation as a quick underneath outlet. The primary progression starts with the wheel route against man coverage, works to the corner route as the intermediate zone beater, then comes back to the drag if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Check the cornerback leverage on the trips side before the snap, outside leverage invites the wheel route to break open vertically. Identify single high safety looks since the wheel route and post route combination stresses one deep defender across two verticals. Watch the flat defender or nickel corner at the snap, if he stays on the corner route the wheel route wins against a linebacker in man coverage. Key on blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, the drag route is the built in answer that voids the vacated shallow zone. Cover 3 or cover 4 shells with disciplined zone drops and a rallying deep safety can shut this down by squeezing the wheel and post into the same deep third.
Usage Tips
Look for man coverage or a single high safety before the snap since the wheel route wins hard against man defenders who try to carry the slot receiver.
If the defense shows off coverage on the trips side, hot route the corner route into a quicker breaking option to beat the cushion before the safety can rotate over.
Use the drag route as your answer versus blitz since it clears the shallow zone fast and gives the quarterback a built in hot read.
Pair this play with Pats Y Out or Pats Cross earlier in a drive so the defense respects the shallow crossing routes, then hit the wheel route deep once linebackers start jumping the drag.
Best called on second or third and medium when the defense is more likely to bring pressure or sit in man coverage to disrupt the trips concept.
