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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Zone Fake Jet is a play-action pass out of Pistol Weak Slot Open that sells jet motion across the formation before working a quick boot concept. Off the fake, the tight end runs a short drag underneath while the outside receiver breaks vertically up the sideline on a corner or go route, giving you a two level stretch on the backside. The running back releases downfield on a vertical seam as a checkdown or big play option if the safety bites on the play fake, and the primary read progression starts with the drag underneath, moves to the corner route breaking outside, then finally to the running back leaking down the middle if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Check safety depth before the snap, a single high safety shading toward the boot side is the biggest indicator this play could get picked off if the corner route is thrown late. Watch for linebackers crashing hard on the jet motion fake, if they bite immediately the underneath drag route will be wide open for an easy completion. Man coverage defenders trailing the motion across the formation confirm you are seeing man to man, which favors the corner route beating a defender without safety help over the top. Zone drops from linebackers sitting flat underneath the drag route can bait a quarterback into a bad decision, so be ready to progress to the running back leak route if the shallow area is clogged. Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties shut this play down hardest since the corner route has no room to work outside without getting squeezed by the deep half defender.
Usage Tips
Use the jet motion pre-snap to force the defense to declare man or zone, if a defender follows the motion man across the formation you are facing man coverage and can trust the corner route to win one on one. Call this on early downs or in run heavy situations where linebackers are sitting on inside zone and outside zone runs from this set, the play fake plays off HB Dive and HB Stretch tendencies. Hot route the tight end into a quick out if you see a linebacker sitting underneath the drag, this gives you a faster access throw against Cover 3 zone drops. Pair this play in sequence with Inside Zone Split and HB Stretch earlier in a drive so the defense keys run action, then hit them with this fake for an explosive shot play. Throw the corner route with anticipation before the receiver breaks, a lurking safety can undercut this route if you wait too long to release the ball.
