Post Wheel (7v7 flag football play)
On the right side, the outside receiver runs a post toward the middle while the slot runs a wheel: out toward the sideline, then straight up it. The defender covering the slot has to run through traffic to stay with the wheel, and the deep safety cannot cover the post and the wheel at the same time.
When to call Post Wheel
Against man-to-man coverage, and near the end zone when the defense plays tight underneath.
Who gets the ball
- H on the wheel up the right sideline when H's defender trails.
- Z on the post if the deep safety widens to help on the wheel.
- C sitting at 5 yards over the ball, the safe throw under pressure.
Coaching points
- H must sell the flat for two steps before turning up. That is what makes the defender stop.
- Z releases first and H goes underneath Z on the way to the sideline. Settle this in practice so they never collide.
- Throw the wheel over H's outside shoulder, toward the sideline, where only H can catch it.
- On the left side, X clears deep and Y runs a short out so the left-side defenders cannot help.
Common mistakes
- H turns upfield too soon, and the route becomes an easy-to-cover go route.
- The QB throws the wheel late and it drifts out of bounds. Let it go as H turns up the sideline.
- Z drifts toward the sideline instead of the middle and brings a second defender to the wheel.
What to call next
Once defenders start jumping the flat, run Dagger from the same Doubles look to attack the middle.