If you have speed on your team, you should be considering some form of the Jet Sweep. This is a play that can be run from almost any formation with almost a guarantee of success. When we first implemented the jet sweep, we did not have enough speed to be effective with it. Yet, teams still seemed to plan their entire game plan around the jet sweep even if it was one of our poorest performing plays.
The ability to run the jet sweep, plus counters and play-action off of it, can make for a complete and lethal offensive package. At the same time, you can combine the jet sweep with most current offensive packages by simply using your toss or outside zone blocking (Diagram 1). The first time I saw the jet sweep was out of the spread offense (doubles and trips formations), but the play was developed long ago as part of the Wing-T offense.
Diagram 1.
Wing-T coaches would hand the ball off to the wingback after he was brought in motion along with a backside fake to the fullback. The play is very similar to the Buck Series for Wing-T coaches. Just as easily, it can be added into the Wing-T package. Coaches can utilize the jet sweep in their own packages (Diagram 2).
Diagram 2.
As it relates to running the jet sweep in the spread offense, there are a number of key coaching points:
1. Anyone from the B gap back should never make the play. If they are, the timing of the handoff is wrong.
2. Pull the playside guard if he is covered. Again, that B gap lineman will not make the tackle and this can help you hook the 5 technique and get a blocker on the inside linebacker.
3. If you run the outside zone, keep your blocking rules the same for the jet sweep. Get two plays for one and let your offensive line go hard without confusion.
4. To build even further on your jet sweep package, work on plays to hold in the inside players.
The easiest way to do this is to run the inside trap off of your jet sweep. This is a great play because you can still have your play side tackle rip and run, having the play look like the jet sweep and getting all of the perimeter players out of the picture. If the middle linebackers are getting too nosy on the jet sweep, you’ll have a nice hole open up for the trap play (Diagram 3).
Diagram 3.
Finally, we need to account for the corners getting bored. If your jet sweep package is really working, the corners are getting a little distracted. After a while, the cornerbacks will not respect the receivers they are covering. Instead, they will start focusing on the jet sweep running back.
Now is the time to hit the defense with the Jet Sweep Play-Action Pass.
The play is a sprint out, triangle read route combination. You can put one player deep, one in the flat, and one in the hook-curl area. Who goes to which place is irrelevant. You will loosen the corners up immediately with an effective play-action game. The QB will fake to the jet sweep, then take off for depth and read from high to low (Diagram 4).
Diagram 4.
The jet sweep can be a great addition to your package, especially if you have some speed to burn!
About the Author: Joe Daniel is the author of Football-Defense.com, Football-Offense.com and host of The Football Coaching Podcast. He has authored six football coaches books and videos. Coach Daniel has 10 years of experience in coaching, nine years on the high school level and a year at Ellsworth College in Iowa Falls, Iowa. He is currently the Defensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach at Prince George High School in Prince George, Virginia.