Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 15 playbooks
Breakdown
PA U-Drag Wheel is a play-action pass out of Singleback Wing Tight Nasty that hides a wheel route out of the backfield behind a drag concept. Off the play fake, one receiver runs a deep out and up route to the sideline, a tight end or fullback releases into a wheel that climbs vertically up the sideline after starting flat, and a third receiver crosses underneath on a drag to the opposite side, with the backside receiver running a deep in to occupy the middle of the field. The line shows full slide protection to handle a defensive line and blitzing linebackers, buying time for the play fake to hold linebackers before the wheel and drag develop. This is a man beater at its core, since the wheel route is designed to torch linebackers or slower defenders who bite on the run fake and then get stacked vertically, though the drag underneath also gives you a quick answer versus zone drops. Primary read progression starts with the wheel route out of the backfield, checks down to the drag crossing underneath if the wheel is covered, and works to the deep in route as a final option against zone coverage.
Defensive Reads
Watch for man coverage indicators pre-snap such as corners lined up tight with no safety help over the slot, since that tells you the wheel route is live against a linebacker or safety in coverage If the defense shows two deep safeties with linebackers sitting in short zones, expect the drag route to be the quicker answer since the wheel may run into safety help over the top Blitz packages that send extra linebackers create the biggest risk for this play, since the slide protection has to hold up long enough for the wheel to climb vertically Post-snap, key on the linebacker assigned to the wheel route runner, if he opens his hips to run with him in man coverage that is your green light to throw the wheel deep User-controlled defenders who lurk in the middle of the field can jump the drag route, so if you see a defender sitting and reading the quarterback's eyes, go through your progression quickly to the wheel or deep in instead
Usage Tips
Sell the run fake by holding the play action button briefly before releasing into your progression, since linebackers biting on the fake are exactly what opens up the wheel route
Use this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage, where defenses are more likely to load the box or run linebacker blitzes that this play punishes
Check the middle linebacker depth pre-snap, if he is sitting shallow expecting run support the wheel route has a clean lane to work vertically against him
Pair this with HB Inside Zone or Counter Strong earlier in a drive to bait linebackers into run reads, then dial up PA U-Drag Wheel once you have their run fits conditioned
Hot route the drag runner deeper if you see zone drops sitting underneath, or motion the wheel route runner pre-snap to check if the defense follows him man to man
