Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Jet Pull Shallow is a pass play out of Shotgun Bunch Wide that uses jet motion across the formation to sell run action before releasing into a shallow crossing concept. Off the bunch, one receiver runs a deep over into the opposite void while the two remaining bunch receivers work a corner route and a shallow drag underneath, with the jet man bending upfield on a vertical after the fake. The blocking keeps the backfield clean for a quick shallow read, and this is primarily a man beater, using the shallow drag and jet motion to create natural rubs and separation against man coverage, with the deep over serving as the first read against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check if the defense follows the jet motion man to man, which signals man coverage and tells you the shallow drag will have a clean rub route release. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, since shallow zone droppers who sink too fast open a throwing lane for the deep over crossing route. Man coverage with no safety help over the middle is the ideal shell to attack, as the shallow and deep over combo overloads a single defender working through traffic. Cover 3 zone defenses with a fast flowing middle linebacker can wall off the shallow crosser, forcing you to hold the ball and target the deep over instead. Watch for a user-controlled defender sitting in the shallow crosser lane or lurking underneath, since that indicates the defense is jumping the primary read and you should reset to your secondary route.
Usage Tips
Use the jet motion pre-snap to bait linebackers and identify if the defense shifts or shows blitz, since a defense that follows the motion man man to man confirms man coverage across the formation.
Your first read is the shallow drag underneath, especially versus man coverage where the rub from bunch alignment creates natural separation against tight man defenders.
If the shallow is taken away, work to the deep over crossing route which exploits zone defenses sitting in Cover 3 or Cover 4 by settling into the void behind linebackers and in front of deep safeties.
Best called on second and medium to third and medium distances where the shallow drag can pick up consistent yardage after the catch.
Pair this play with Curl Flat or Slot Hook from the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick underneath concepts and shallow crossers, forcing linebackers to respect multiple route depths.
