Jet Sweep
WR in motion at full speed attacks the edge
- Ball carrier
- Block
The Jet Sweep puts the ball in a wide receiver's hands at full speed via pre-snap motion. As the WR comes across the formation in motion, the QB hands off at the mesh point and the WR attacks the edge before the defense can react. The play's speed to the perimeter forces the edge defender into an impossible contain decision. But the Jet Sweep's greatest value may be when it is faked, jet motion creates deception for dozens of complementary plays including inside zone, counter, and play-action deep shots. Teams that effectively threaten the jet sweep force defenses to account for the motion on every snap.
Blocking
5 OLTap a lineman to isolate his block.
Blocking rules
The playside offensive linemen execute reach blocks to seal defenders inside, creating a running lane to the edge. The playside tackle and tight end are responsible for the edge defender, one seals inside while the other kicks out or leads through. The backside offensive linemen hinge-block to prevent pursuit from the backside. The key is that the blocks must be established quickly, the jet motion receiver is at full speed at the snap, so the blocking must arrive simultaneously with or before the ball carrier.
Running back read
The jet sweep receiver (not the RB) takes the handoff. His read is simple: get to the edge as fast as possible. If the edge defender is sealed inside by the TE/OT, run outside. If the edge defender has set the edge, cut inside the last blocker. The RB typically runs a fake inside zone path opposite the jet sweep to hold backside defenders.
Why it works
The Jet Sweep attacks the edge with a receiver already at full speed before the defense has time to adjust. Most edge defenders are aligned to set the edge against a running back who starts 7 yards deep, they are not prepared for a ball carrier arriving at the line of scrimmage at a full sprint from the snap. The speed differential overwhelms the edge, and the jet motion also serves as a pre-snap indicator that changes the defense's responsibilities and communication on every play it appears.
Conflict defender
Playside edge defender, must maintain contain against a ball carrier who is already at full speed hitting the edge. Over-commit to contain and the cutback opens; crash inside and the perimeter is exposed.
Play-action off it
1- Post-Wheel · Jet sweep fake into play-action deep shot, the corner bites on the motion and vacates the deep third, opening the post-wheel behind him.
Origin
The Jet Sweep traces to Harold "Tubby" Raymond's Delaware Wing-T (late 1970s-early 1980s) and Herschel Moore's Cumberland program before Chip Kelly's Oregon spread modernized it for the spread era; Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay made jet motion a staple of the modern NFL. Its greatest value may be when it is faked, jet motion creates deception for dozens of complementary plays. The play itself is simple, but its influence on the entire offensive system is outsized.
Jet Sweep vs fronts
7 RATED- 3-4 Two-GapEdge
Jet motion gets the ball to the edge faster than two-gapping linemen can disengage; the OLB is caught between the sweep and inside run.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Weak-side OLB (7/9-tech force)
Why the offense wins. Jet motion gets the ball to the edge faster than two-gapping linemen can disengage; the OLB is caught between the sweep and inside run.
Key adjustment. OLB must trigger immediately on jet motion and set the edge.
- Tite FrontEdge
Tite front is loaded inside; jet sweep hits the edge where the defense has committed fewer resources.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Weak-side edge defender (JACK)
Why the offense wins. Tite front is loaded inside; jet sweep hits the edge where the defense has committed fewer resources.
Key adjustment. Widen the edge defender pre-snap to take away the perimeter lane.
- Bear FrontEdge
Bear front interior is clogged but the edges are vulnerable; jet sweep attacks the perimeter before the defense can adjust.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Weak-side defensive end (5-technique edge)
Why the offense wins. Bear front interior is clogged but the edges are vulnerable; jet sweep attacks the perimeter before the defense can adjust.
Key adjustment. Assign a safety to force the jet sweep from the secondary.
- 4-3 OverToss-up
The over front DE can set the edge with good technique and force a cutback.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Playside defensive end (edge)
Why the offense wins. Jet motion outruns the pursuit angle of the over front DE.
Why the defense wins. The over front DE can set the edge with good technique and force a cutback.
Key adjustment. Have the end set the edge and the WILL scrape to the sweep.
- NickelToss-up
Athletic nickel defenders can match the speed of the jet sweep runner.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. WILL linebacker (stacked weak side)
Why the offense wins. Jet sweep attacks the edge where nickel defenders are lighter.
Why the defense wins. Athletic nickel defenders can match the speed of the jet sweep runner.
Key adjustment. Have the WILL run the sweep down from inside out and a safety fill the alley as force.
- 4-3 UnderTough
Running the jet to the under front's weak side, the 5-technique end is already on the edge with the WILL stacked behind him, so the sweep is forced back into pursuit.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Weak-side defensive end (5-technique edge force)
Why the defense wins. Running the jet to the under front's weak side, the 5-technique end is already on the edge with the WILL stacked behind him, so the sweep is forced back into pursuit.
Key adjustment. Have the 5-tech squeeze the edge and the WILL run the sweep down from inside out.
- Wide-9Tough
Wide-9 DE is already on the edge in the path of the jet sweep; the sweep runner has nowhere to go outside.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Wide-9 defensive end (in the path of the sweep)
Why the defense wins. Wide-9 DE is already on the edge in the path of the jet sweep; the sweep runner has nowhere to go outside.
Key adjustment. Keep the 9-tech wide so the sweep has nowhere to go outside him.