Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Jet Touch Pass is a quick swing pass out of Shotgun Empty Ace that sends a receiver in jet motion across the formation before the snap, then throws him a touch pass on a shallow angle route behind the line of scrimmage. The diagram shows the motion man cutting under the formation and out to the flat, with the quarterback releasing the touch pass almost immediately once the motion clears the box. This is a horizontal stretch play designed to get the ball to the perimeter in space, functioning as a low risk touch pass concept rather than a true screen or play-action shot, with the primary read being the jet motion receiver in the flat as the QB's first and only real progression.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, key the flat defender or slot corner assigned to the jet motion side, since a defender who mirrors the motion man across the formation signals man coverage and a hard close on the touch pass. Watch for a linebacker or safety sitting in the shallow zone underneath, as a sound zone shell with a defender spying the flat will jump the route and blow this play up for a loss or minimal gain. Post-snap, user control a linebacker or nickel defender and shade toward the motion man's release point instead of biting on the run fake, since the touch pass is the entire concept and there is no secondary route to punish an aggressive jump. This play struggles against Cover 2 or Cover 3 shells with disciplined flat defenders, but it can pick up easy yardage against man coverage teams that are late getting a defender across the field with the motion. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge into the flat area, rather than up the middle, are the most effective counter since the touch pass has almost no time to develop before the ball is out.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, since a defender following the jet motion across the formation confirms man coverage and tells you to expect a quick trigger throw.
Snap the ball as the motion man crosses the frame so the touch pass timing lines up with his stride, avoiding a low or behind throw that kills the play in the backfield.
Best used on early downs or short yardage third downs where a five to eight yard gain in the flat keeps the offense ahead of schedule.
Pair this with Fake Jet Pass Power and PA Jet Sweep from the same set so the defense has to respect both the run fake and the actual touch pass out of the same jet motion look, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their run fits.
Avoid calling this against aggressive blitz packages that key motion and crash the flat, since there is no second read to bail you out if the primary throw is taken away.
