Playbooks

PA Drag Wheel

Singleback·Deuce Close·12

Play Action Wheel Drag Pass Play

Play diagram for PA Drag Wheel from Singleback Deuce Close in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationSingleback

SetDeuce Close

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 33 playbooks

Franchise College Pro OffenseOffense 49ers OffenseOffense Bears OffenseOffense Cardinals OffenseOffense Chargers OffenseOffense Cowboys OffenseOffense Jets OffenseOffense Lions OffenseOffense Packers OffenseOffense Panthers OffenseOffense Raiders OffenseOffense Redskins OffenseOffense

Breakdown

PA Drag Wheel is a play-action pass out of Singleback Deuce Close 12 personnel that sells the run fake before releasing a three level attack downfield. The backside receiver runs a deep post while the slot works a drag underneath across the formation, and the key route is the wheel out of the backfield that climbs the sideline off the play fake, with the RB releasing to the flat before turning it up. This is a man beater built to exploit linebackers and safeties who bite on the run action, and the primary read progression starts with the wheel route against man coverage, then works to the drag as the underneath check down, and finally to the deep post if the safety flows away from the field.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flat defender or slot cornerback pre-snap since a defender aligned tight over the drag route signals man coverage and opens up the wheel route against a linebacker in coverage. Key the safety rotation post-snap because a single high safety that bites on the run fake leaves the deep post open, while two deep safeties staying home will shut down that vertical shot. Identify if a linebacker is spying the running back before the snap, since a spy or blitzer assigned to the backfield can jump the wheel route and blow up the primary read. Look for zone drop tendencies from the linebackers after the snap, if they sink hard into the drag route window it signals zone coverage and the wheel becomes the better matchup against a covering safety or nickel defender. This play struggles against disciplined zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 where the deep defenders do not bite on play action, so avoid calling it when you diagnose those shells pre-snap.

Usage Tips

Sell the play fake by holding the ball and eyeing the linebackers before committing to your throw so the wheel route has time to separate.

Use this on early downs in run heavy personnel situations since the 12 personnel look and PA action can freeze linebackers who are keyed on Mtn HB Stretch or HB Zone Wk out of the same formation.

If you see man coverage indicators pre-snap like corners lined up tight with no safety help over the slot, prioritize the wheel route since it is the primary man beater in this concept.

Hot route the drag route into a deeper crossing pattern against zone shells to give yourself a true zone beater underneath option if the wheel gets covered.

Pair this play in sequence with PA Deep Cross or PA Post Cross from the same set to keep defenses guessing between drag combinations and wheel action after establishing the run game.