Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 12 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Y-Drag Wheel is a play-action pass out of Singleback Wing Tight Z that sells a run fake before releasing four routes into the pattern. The tight end runs the drag underneath across the middle while the wing back releases into a wheel route up the sideline, the slot runs a deep crosser working opposite the drag, and the flat route stays short as a checkdown outlet. This is primarily a man beater, using the wheel to punish linebackers or safeties who bite on the run fake or try to cover the wing back man to man, with the drag as the primary read against zone drops that vacate the middle.
Defensive Reads
Watch for cornerbacks or slot defenders lined up in press man on the wing back, since that alignment often signals man coverage that the wheel route can exploit deep. Key the middle linebacker depth at the snap. If he steps up hard on the run fake, the drag route will be wide open behind him. Identify two-high safety shells pre-snap. A single deep safety rotating late can leave the wheel route in a favorable one-on-one matchup against a slower defender. Look for user-controlled lurk defenders sitting in the shallow middle zone, since they can jump the drag route if the quarterback holds it too long. Against zone blitz packages, the flat route is often the fastest way to beat pressure before the wheel or drag can develop.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs when you have already established the run game so the play-action fake actually holds linebackers for a beat.
Read the wheel route first if you see man coverage or a safety cheating toward the run, since a blown assignment there is a house call.
If the defense shows zone shell pre-snap, work the drag as your primary read since it settles into the void vacated by underneath zone defenders.
Pair this play with HB Inside Zone and HB Power O earlier in a series so the play-action fake carries more weight once you call PA Y-Drag Wheel.
Use the flat route as your checkdown against pressure looks, especially if you diagnose a blitz pre-snap and need a quick outlet to avoid a sack.
