Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Jet Sweep shows a play-action shot off the jet sweep fake, with the two outside receivers running vertical routes up the sideline while the slot man on the strong side runs a deep dig/crosser (the red route) that breaks across the middle underneath those verticals. The offensive line and running back sell the jet sweep run action to hold linebackers and safeties before the QB rolls into pass concept, making this a shot play designed to punish teams that bite on outside run flow. The primary read is the deep dig coming across the field first since it is the built-in answer to zone rotation, then work outside to either vertical if the underneath defender bails or the safety cheats to the middle route.
Defensive Reads
Watch for defenders flowing hard toward the jet motion at the snap, that flow indicates man coverage or aggressive run fits that leave the deep dig wide open behind them. Identify if the strong side linebacker or slot corner bites on the run fake, since that vacates the underneath crossing lane the dig route attacks. Check for a deep half or deep third defender sitting on top of the outside verticals, if he stays deep and does not bite, the vertical routes are covered and you should stick with the crosser. Look for a user-controlled defender spying the backfield instead of respecting the jet sweep fake, this is the biggest counter since he can undercut the dig route before it clears traffic. Cover 3 with aggressive flow to the motion is where this play hits hardest, while disciplined Cover 4 or match zone teams that keep eyes on the QB can sit on the dig and take away the primary read.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs, second and short or third and short, when the defense has shown run blitz or aggressive box counts against your jet sweep and inside zone runs earlier in the game.
Check safety depth pre-snap, if both safeties are sitting shallow expecting run support, this is your green light to throw the shot play.
Use jet motion pre-snap to bait linebackers into flowing with the sweep action, then read the middle dig route first since it exploits the vacated zone.
Pair this play in sequence with Jet Sweep and HB Zone Wk Alert Z Smoke earlier in a series so defenders start keying run fits, then dial up PA Jet Sweep to counter that tendency.
If the defense shows two deep safeties post snap, hot route one outside vertical into a comeback or hitch to give yourself a quicker underneath answer against soft zone.
