Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn Curls Y-Wheel is a trips-based pass concept out of Y Off Trips Nasty in Shotgun. The backside receiver runs a deep comeback while the backside RB or slot runs an outlet route underneath toward the sideline, and from the trips side the Y (tight end) releases on a wheel route up the sideline while the two remaining trips receivers work short curls in front of the sticks. This is a zone beater designed to stress the flat to deep quarter defender: the primary read is the Y-Wheel against man or blown coverage, working down to the curls sitting in soft zone windows underneath.
Defensive Reads
Identify if the defense is in man coverage by checking if a linebacker or slot corner tries to trail the Y across the formation on the wheel release, which usually signals a big play opportunity. Watch the flat defender on the backside; if he sinks with the comeback route instead of widening, the shallow outlet route underneath becomes open. Key the deep quarter or half defender on the trips side; disciplined zone drops that stay over the top of the wheel route shut this play down and force the check down to the curls. Look for user-controlled defenders lurking in the shallow curl zones, since aggressive user play on the curls can bait the quarterback into throwing late into a jumped route. Against Cover 2 or Cover 4, the wheel route tends to run into help over the top, so the underneath curl to the trips side becomes the higher percentage read.
Usage Tips
Look presnap for single-high shells with a linebacker responsible for the seam, since the Y-Wheel exploits any linebacker who has to carry the tight end vertically.
If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4, work your eyes to the curls first since the wheel route will likely run into a deep quarter defender.
Use motion or hot routes to adjust the backside comeback into a hitch or slant against aggressive corner press to speed up the shorter throw.
Pair this play with Mtn HB Choice or Mtn Y Pivot in your sequencing so the defense respects the underneath curls and opens up the Y-Wheel shot on later downs.
Best called on second or third and medium when defenses are willing to play zone match coverage, since man coverage busts tend to give up the wheel route on option routes.
