Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Jet Pull Shallow is a pass play out of Shotgun Bunch Offset that uses jet motion across the backfield to hold linebackers before the ball is snapped. The bunch side runs a deep shallow cross underneath a deep cross from the backside receiver, while the isolated receiver runs a short in cut breaking away from coverage. This is a man beater at its core, since the shallow cross drags across the field to create natural rub traffic and separation against man defenders, with the primary read progression starting on the shallow crosser working from the bunch, then working to the deep cross if the shallow is taken away, and finally checking down to the short in route if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Watch the linebackers at the snap to see if they widen to trail the jet motion, which signals man coverage and opens up the shallow cross for an easy completion. If the defense stays disciplined in zone with linebackers sinking to their landmarks instead of chasing motion, expect the shallow cross to be squeezed and you should look to the deep cross or the short in route instead. Key the safety alignment pre-snap, a single high safety usually means man coverage underneath which favors the shallow cross, while two deep safeties suggest a zone shell that can be exploited with the deep cross sitting behind the underneath defenders. Look for a user lurking in the shallow zone with a linebacker spy, since that defender can jump the shallow crosser if the quarterback stares it down too long. This play struggles against a well timed nano blitz or interior pressure package since the shallow route takes time to develop, so if you see blitz indicators pre-snap consider hot routing the short in route to a quick out for a faster release.
Usage Tips
Use the jet motion pre-snap to identify if the defense follows the motion man, which tells you if you are facing man coverage. If the linebackers widen out to chase the jet motion, expect a lighter box and a favorable throwing window on the shallow cross. Hot route the short in route receiver to a speed out if you see a corner sitting in an underneath zone shell to give yourself an easier completion outside the numbers. This play works best on second and short to medium situations where the defense is more likely to sit in man coverage rather than drop into deep zone shells. Pair this play with HB Draw or Read Option from the same set to keep defenses honest against the jet motion look before hitting them with the crossing routes. Sequence this with PA Dig or Speed Dig later in a series once the defense starts jumping the shallow route, since the play action look off the same formation punishes overaggressive linebackers.
