Playbooks
Jet PA HB Seam is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Duo Offset that sells the jet sweep motion and inside zone run action before the quarterback pulls and looks downfield. The fake draws linebackers and safeties up on the run fake while the seam route splits the middle of the field behind them, with a flood concept underneath to hold the corners and hook defenders. This is primarily a zone beater since it attacks the void created by run fits and second level flow, and the primary read progression starts with the seam route, moving to the underneath flood or check down if the safety stays deep and takes away the vertical shot.
Key the strong safety and free safety depth before the snap, since shallow safeties are biting on run action and leaving the seam wide open. Watch linebacker spacing at the snap, if they step up hard to fit the jet sweep or inside zone fake, the middle seam window will be massive. Cover 3 buzz or Cover 1 robber concepts are the biggest liabilities here because the deep defender responsible for the middle can get frozen by the run fake. Cover 4 quarters and Cover 2 shells with disciplined safeties who stay deep can take away the seam and force you into the underdeveloped flood route. Watch for a user linebacker spying the seam or dropping into a lurk position in the middle of the field, since that defender can jump the route if the quarterback stares it down too long.
Run this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage when defenses are geared up to stop the run out of Duo Offset personnel.
Check pre-snap for single high safety looks such as Cover 3 or Cover 1, since a deep middle void makes the seam route far more explosive.
If you see two deep safeties or Cover 4 shells, be ready to check down quickly or bail into the flood route instead of forcing the seam read.
Pair this play with Inside Zone and HB Punch earlier in a series so the defense respects the run action, then hit this shot play once linebackers start creeping up on run fits.
Use hot routes to convert the underneath flood into a quick out or flat route against aggressive man corners who jump the jet motion.