Jet motion is one of my favorite tools in the spread offense that can stretch the defense horizontally and vertically with the use of speed, deception and power. The idea behind this type of motion is to get athletes in space by quickly attacking the perimeter, or using it to empty the box and attack inside.
This motion is great for window dressing favorite run and pass plays. The deception of a receiver running in motion at full speed at the snap of the ball can cause confusion for the defense when trying to identify who has the football.
Jet motion can, and should be used in both the run game and pass game with plays that compliment and counter each other. If used correctly, and at the right time, Jet motion will give you exactly what you need to run and pass for more yards!
How to Use Jet Motion in the Spread Offense
In the upcoming examples, I’m going to use Jet motion against a 4-2-5 defense with two high safeties to keep things simple. In my experience, the defense will roll coverage to the sweep motion, which is what you will see in the examples below.
Run Game with Jet Motion
Sweep
| Y | Y will push-crack to the first guy inside of him. In this example, he will push crack to the inside LB. This is because he has better leverage on the defender inside |
| H | H will line up on the outside leg of the tackle to help him get out front and lead block for the A Sweep. H is looking for the first color that shows up from outside-in. In this example, it will be the safety that is rolling down to the motion. |
| A | A will get the motion from the QB and run through at 100%. We want A to be at top speed when he has the football so he can quickly attack the perimeter. |
| QB | The QB will wave A to come in motion, and will call up the snap as the A reaches the Left tackle. This will give the QB enough time to receiver the ball from center and then hand it off to A in front of him for the sweep. The timing rest on the shoulders of the QB. Instead of trying to slow A down for timing, the QB must snap the ball earlier. |
Inside Zone Read
| QB | QB will call up the snap by the time A gets to the LT. QB will take his normal steps and reads for inside zone left, and let A run through with the fake as if he is running sweep to the right. QB will read the DE. If the DE plays wide, squats on the LOS, or gets up field, then QB will give it to H for inside zone. If the DE chases H and gets down the LOS, then QB will rip and run off tackle. |
Counter Trey
| A | A will get the motion from the QB and run through at 100%. We want A to be at top speed when he has the football so he can quickly attack the perimeter. |
| H | H will take a jab step to the right and turn his hips/shoulders as if running with sweep. He will then stay inside and track the near hip of the Backside Tackle who is pulling for the play side linebacker. |
| QB | QB will bring A in motion and will call up the ball when A gets to the Left Tackle. He will quick punch fake for sweep, and then hand the ball of to H for Counter Trey Left |
QB Counter Trey Read
| Y | Y will push crack the first color inside as if he is blocking for sweep right |
| H | H will line up on the outside leg of the tackle and lead block for the A on sweep. |
| A | Come in motion at 100% expecting the football |
| QB | QB will wave A in motion, and the ball must be in the QB’s hands by the time A gets to the left tackle. QB will shuffle 1-2 times while reading the DE. If DE squats or squeezes down on the LOS, then QB will give to A on the sweep. If DE widens, then QB will rip and run Counter Trey to the left. |
Power Read
| Y | Just like Figure 1, Y will push crack to the first color inside of him. Y is blocking as if sweep is being ran to his side. |
| H | Same as Figure 1 where H will line up on the outside leg of the Tackle, and will lead block for A if he carries out the sweep. H is looking for the first color outside-in |
| A | This is where most coaches will disagree, but A will come in motion and still run at 100%. If A gets the ball in his belly then it means he is running sweep, and I want him at top speed if that is the case. |
| QB | The QB will wave A in motion, and now the ball must be in the QB’s hands by the time A gets to the Left Tackle. This will allow enough time for the QB to take one shuffle and read the play side DE. If the DE squats or squeezes down on the LOS, then the QB will leave the ball on the table for A to carry out the sweep. If the DE widens and tries to contain the sweep, then the QB will rip and run inside and behind his back side guard pulling for the play side backer. |
Speed Option
| A | A will come in motion at 100% expecting the football for sweep to the right. |
| H | At the snap of the ball, H will run behind the QB to the left and get in pitch relationship. The H should be no more than 5 yards away from the QB if he happens to rip and run with speed option to the left. |
| QB | QB will call A in motion and the ball must be in the QB’s hands just before A gets to the Left Tackle. The QB will read the DE on the left without shuffling. If the DE stays home, then the QB will give to A on the sweep to the right. If the DE chases the sweep, then QB will rip and run with speed option to the left. The second read for the QB is the apex defender, who may not be there if they roll coverage like in the picture above. If no apex defender presents himself, then QB will put his foot in the ground and get upfield. If Apex defender plays the QB, then he will make the pitch to the running back. |
Empty Sweep
| H | H will block first guy inside, or keep looking for work as he climbs to the safety. The H can also be in place of the A in this empty set and run sweep. |
| A | A will come in motion full speed and run sweep to the right. |
| QB | This is a straight give for the QB. He must have the ball in the hands as the A is getting to the Left Tackle. |
Empty QB Counter Trey
| QB | This is a designed run for the QB. The timing will stay the same as if we’re running sweep to the right. The QB will shuffle 1-2 times to give BSG and BST time to kick and pull around for play side backer. The QB will punch fake the sweep to the right as he is shuffling, and then will track the near hip of the Tackle as he stays inside-out following his tackle right off the B gap. |
Empty QB Power Read
| QB | The QB will have the same timing as if he is running sweep to the right. At the snap of the ball, the QB will take one shuffle as he reads the play side DE. If the DE sits or squeezes down the LOS, the QB will give the ball to A on the sweep. If the DE widens with motion, then QB will rip and run inside following his BSG on power. |
Pass Game with Jet Motion
Y Spot
| Z | Z will be off the line and run a Go route |
| Y | Y is on the LOS and he is running what I call a “spot route”. He’s going to run 6 yards and spot up behind the overhang defender |
| A | A will come in jet motion and he is getting to width at the snap of the ball. His goal is to pull the overhang defender with him as A widens and gains ground towards the LOS. |
| X | X will run a backside slant. This is not a great look in 2 high coverage when the defense rolls the DB’s. However, if the defense gives a single high look, and the LB’s flood to Jet motion and the Safety moves with it as well, the backside slant is a great option. |
| QB | QB will call the ball up here a little later than when he does in the run game. Here the ball will be called up as the A gets to the Right Tackle. This will allow A the timing he needs to get to width and sit at the LOS. Pre-snap read: -2 high safety means the slant is dead because he’ll run to coverage. -Depth of corner on Z if he can get over the top of him. Post snap read: -The overhang defender that is circled is the movement key. If he shoots his gun for A who is running the “bubble”, then the QB will throw it to Y who is spotting up right behind him. If the overhang sits with Y, then the QB will throw it to A who is gaining ground and sitting at the LOS. |
Flood
| Z | Go Route |
| Y | 10 yard out |
| A | A will come in motion at full speed and at the snap of the ball he will run a 1-3 yard speed out. He must turn his head around immediately expecting the football |
| X | Backside post |
| QB | QB is sprinting out to the flood concept. His eyes will work from front to back, or short-intermediate-long. This is because the speed out will open up first in the progression, followed by the 10 yard out, and lastly the go route. If QB sees CB rolled up tight at the LOS pre snap, then he has the green light to sprint out, quick set his feet and take a shot on the Go route. |
Snag
| Z | Z has the Snag route. He will drive hard off the ball for 6 yards, then gain ground to the inside for 2 yards and spot up around 8 yards to the inside. The Z’s read in this concept is the Safety coming down as the overhang, and the inside LB. Z needs to spot up away from coverage and sit in the window, between the overhang and inside LB. |
| Y | Y will run a corner route. This is at about 8-10 yards depending on wherever the steps take this slot receiver. |
| A | A will come in motion at full speed and at the snap of the ball will run a 1-3 yard speed out. |
| X | Backside post. |
| QB | QB’s pre-snap read: -Backside Post. Two high safeties is not a great read for the backside post to come open as he will run to coverage. However, if the defense has a single high safety, and he moves with motion, then the QB has the green light to throw the backside post which will have a big open window. QB’s post-snap reads: -If the CB sits Then QB will throw over the top and outside (away from the near Safety) to the corner route. -If CB bails, or safety out-leverages the Y, then QB will get his eyes to the overhang defender and inside linebacker, looking for Z to spot up in the window. -Lastly, the QB will come down to the A if the first to reads are dead. |
RPO’s with Jet Motion
Zone Read Bubble/Out
| Y | Y will push crack to the LB, or climb to the safety over the top if LB is taken care of. He will not block the over hang defender that came down to Jet motion because that is the QB’s 2nd read. |
| A | A will run full speed, and at the snap of the ball, he will run a “bubble” with an emphasis on getting width more than depth. A will sit at the LOS and will be the 3rd option for the QB in this RPO |
| X | 5 yard out. X will be an option if CB is off pre-snap |
| H | Run inside zone. If H doesn’t get the ball, he must continue running past the LOS as if he does. This will keep the defense honest and may keep linebackers in the box as QB rips and runs outside. |
| QB | Pre-snap read: -Depth of CB on the out route. If the CB is playing off with a lot of cushion, then QB can throw the 5 yard out. Post-snap read: -QB’s first read is the DE for zone read. If DE gets up field-or squats on the LOS, then QB will give to H for Inside Zone. If DE squeezes down on the LOS, then QB will Rip and Run to the perimeter. -QB’s second read is the overhang defender. If the overhang widens and plays bubble, QB will put his foot in the ground and get up field. If the overhang shoots his gun and comes up for the QB, then QB will quickly throw the ball out to A who is sitting on the LOS. |
Zone Read Lock Arrow Hitch
| A | A will run a speed out that is at/behind the LOS. He must quickly get his ahead around once he gets to the perimeter expecting the football if QB gets the read to throw. |
| X | Five yard hitch. X is an option if Corner is playing off in coverage pre-snap |
| OL | The “Lock” call for the OL means the backside to inside zone left will be Big on Big, and they are not going to block the linebacker at the 2nd level. LT, LG and C will block as if they are running inside zone, with a combo block from C and G to the PSB. |
| QB | Pre-snap read for QB is to identify depth of CB on X. If CB is off, then QB can quick set his feet and throw the hitch route. Post-snap read: -QB will read the BSB to inside zone. If the BSB bounces with motion and widens out of the box, then QB will give the ball to H on inside zone. -If BSB sits in the box, or plays the run, then the QB will rip and throw the ball out to A who is running a speed out at the LOS. |
Y Pop
| Y | In this formation, Y is at the wing position, 1 yard to the right of the RT and 1 yard behind the LOS. At the snap of the ball, the Y will take an outside release and work to get on top of the play-side LB and split the middle safeties (if 2 high). |
| A | A will come in motion and run full speed for sweep to the right |
| X | Go route. |
| QB | Pre-snap read: -Depth of CB on X. If CB is under 5 yards, then QB can throw the Go Route. Post-snap read: -QB will read the PSB. If the PSB widens and runs with sweep, the QB will rip and throw the pop pass to Y who is working over the top of him. If the PSB gets depth and robs the pop pass, then QB will give to A running the sweep to the right. |
Using Jet Motion in Your Offense
These are just a few examples of ways that you can use jet motion in the spread offense. I personally like Jet motion because I like being able to move the defense and watch how they adjust to fast motion. I’ve had success running these plays because they compliment and counter different plays that we run in our offense. This motion helps window dress our tendencies and allows us to stay unpredictable and one step ahead of the defense.
There are dozens of other ways that you can use Jet motion in your offense. It all depends on how creative you want to be, and how much practice time you’ll dedicate to nailing them down to perfection.
I hope you found a few schemes that will be useful and bring your offense success in the future.
If you have any questions, please email me at spreadoffensefootball@gmail.com or message me on twitter; Spread_Offense
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