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AFM Magazine


Motion Offense

Keeping defenses off balance with motion
by: Jerry Mack, Jr
Wide Receivers Coach, Jackson State University
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It is an honor to write this article on behalf of Rick Comegy and the Jackson State offensive staff. We’ve been fortunate to be blessed with an array of talented athletes who have the ability to play multiple positions. Offensive coaches are always trying to find the edge on defenses. Using motion, shifting, and audibles at the line of scrimmage are just a few ways we try to create mismatches for every play. Defenses are doing an excellent job of recognizing different personnel groups and making simple adjustments to all the offensive games.

We believe in a spread option attack along with a fast tempo offensive pace. The option allows us to threaten different areas of the field and make defenses play assignment football. We feel like we can keep defenses off balance with our spread option along with our full-field read passing game. These two concepts work hand in hand with one another. Neither is as successful without the complement of the other. Offensively, we believe this allows us not to be predictable and not let defenses develop a tendency on our attack.

Orbit (See Diagram 1)
This motion is worked behind the QB. The inside receiver motions behind the QB, becoming the pitch man on the option or free releasing as a hot receiver vs. blitz. The receiver must run at a controlled speed. He must understand that he must get in a good pitch relationship with the QB. We teach a 5x1 rule. This means five yards width and one yard depth. It is important to scout the backside flat defender along with the rotation of the safeties in order to see what pass route combinations may be effective because of the safety rotation.

Diagram 1: Triple Option (orbit)

Peel (See Diagram 2)
Peel motion is a tag to our inside receiver away from the RB. This motion tells him to line up in his normal alignment and motion into the backfield. Once he gets even with the QB, he releases to get back into his assigned route. The timing on this motion must be worked constantly. The QB must be patient and allow the receiver to get even before he calls for the snap. You would like this motion to be done on the run. Don’t let the receiver be stationary when the ball is snapped. An ideal motion would be to allow the receiver to motion into the backfield and stick his inside foot into the ground when even with the QB, immediately getting back into his route.

Diagram 2: Wolfpack (peel motion)
Progression:
1.Swing
2.Sitdown
3.Curl/Flat


Twirl (See Diagrams 3A and 3B)
The twirl motion is used to motion the backside receiver to pass protect or insert on a LB. The motion looks identical to peel motion. The WR motions into the backfield and will become responsible for the WLB. This motion allows you to throw a curveball in your protection. It also allows you to have a third motion that looks exactly like the previous mentioned two. We also use this motion for our RB draw. Instead of allowing an offensive lineman to get to a backside backer, we require a WR to cut block him. This allows for a wider running lane for the RB.

Diagram 3A: Twirl (man protection) vs. 7 Man Front

Diagram 3B: Twirl (man protection) vs. 8 Man Front (QB responsible for SLB)

TRIPLE OPTION/MAN ZONE (See Diagram 4)
Our option play allows us to attack different areas of the field. Some key aspects, we believe, in making this play work are:

• Constant repetition by the QB.
• Y-receiver identifies the number of safeties and blocks the correct defender.
• Always have a read key and pitch key.
• RB’s have good footwork, read keys, and soft fold over football.
• OL has movement to create running lanes.

Diagram 4: P.A. (Man/Zone) (orbit)
Progression:
1.Hot/Shallow
2.Man=Corner
3.Zone=Dig/Hitch


We make sure the QB becomes second nature in reading the backside DE. We give him every possible look he may see the DE execute. The Y-receiver identifies the number of safeties. This determines our pitch key. The receiver must understand to work to the nearest safety or crack on the first LB inside the box. The RB should be at a depth of five yards and his aiming point is the inside foot of the PST. He executes a soft fold over the football, and is smooth to the hole and blasts through it. Do not teach the cutback from day one; rather, let it develop naturally. If you teach the cutback, the back will start looking for the cutback instead of pressing the line of scrimmage.

Our man/zone play off orbit motion is also extremely deadly. Assignments include:

H - He orbits motion and runs route.
Then he sits down on numbers at five yards.
Z - He is the shallow crosser. He also replaces the heels of the DL.
Y - Runs a Post/Corner route.
X - He runs release dig route.
RB - Executes a play fake and runs a block/swing route.
QB - He eliminates the hot target.
1. If coverage is man, he goes to the Post/Corner.
2. If zone, he hits the Shallow/Dig route.

Our backside #2(H) still motions behind the QB. The H- sits down at a depth of five yards on the numbers. Our Z receiver runs a shallow crosser at a depth of no greater than two yards from the LOS. The Y-Receiver runs a post corner and aims for the front pylon in the field and back pylon in the RZ. Our backside X runs a burst release dig. The RB carries out the fake and executes a swing route, staying behind the LOS. The QB reads the playside CB. If he runs with ‘Z’, the QB throws the corner. If the CB bails, we work the backside dig to shallow. The final option will be to throw the hitch to the H receiver on the numbers. We say man/zone because the frontside combination should be good vs. man coverage and the backside combination will be good vs. zone. These two plays complement one another. The orbit motion now looks like a number of things to the defense.

WOLFPACK/TIGER (See Diagram 5)

Peel motion is an excellent way to keep defenses off balance. Initially it looks similar to orbit motion. We run our Wolfpack play off this motion. We first saw N.C. State run this play in 2004. We tweaked the rules and added the motion in order to fit the play into our package. The key is the X-receiver; he must be disciplined in his alignment and landmark. Here are the assignments:

X - Runs a six yard sit down route over the tackle box. If the OLB sprints to cover RB, he gets in his path on the way to your landmark.
H - He peels motion and runs a swing to wheel route. He swings out looking for the ball on the first three steps. If the ball hasn’t come on his third step, he releases up the sideline on the wheel route.
Y - He runs a speed out route.
Z - He runs a streak route but must release outside.
QB -1. Eliminates the hot read.
2. He keeps his eyes on the weakside LB.

Wolfpack is another man/zone concept that can be a great first down call or a quick and easy way to get the ball to your playmakers. The Tiger pass allows us to stretch the field vertically, but still use peel motion to make the defense tip their hat. Assignments include:

X - Runs a skinny Post.
H - Runs peel Motion and releases on trail route.
Y - Runs a seam red route.
Z - Runs a comeback route.
QB -1. First option is the post route.
2. Second option is the trail route.
3. Seam read is the third option.

We want the deep ball first if the safety is over the top of the post. The QB looks for our trail route off the peel motion. The third progression will be our seam read. This could be a deep ball, curl, or dig. This route is dictated off the safety play.

The trail route will continue up the sideline if the CB runs with the post. If not, the trail route will sit down at six yards on the bottom of the numbers. Against a Cover 2 look, the trail will get to the void on the sideline and look for the ball quickly in the void area. The QB must eliminate the hot read and then follow his progression. Tiger pass is a great deep ball threat that will keep safeties in a bind. We cannot only attack the short areas with a simple short passing concept but a vertical concept is also very important to incorporate with this motion.

Diagram 5: Tiger (peel motion)
Progression:
1.Post
2.Wheel
3.Seam/Read


PROTECTION/RB DRAW (See Diagram 6)
We use twirl motion for extra protection and our RB draw. This motion tells the H-Back to block. He may become the seventh blocker in the protection or insert on a LB. When using twirl motion, we are in a B.O.B. protection scheme. The assignments include:

PST - Plays the man over.
PSG - Plays the man over.
C - Declares the MLB (MLB to NT).
BSG - Declares the MLB (MLB to NT).
BST - Plays the man over.
RB - Plays the first LB outside the box (first LB inside the box vs. 4-2-5).
H - Plays the first backside LB outside the box.

Diagram 6: Twirl (RB draw)

Our entire line knows exactly who to block. We declare the MLB and we designate the center and backside guard on this defender. We tell the H-Back he is responsible for the first LB outside the box; that is, if no defender shows he’s responsible for the first LB inside the box to the backside. We are able to get three receivers into a route while protecting with seven players. The QB must be responsible for the SS vs. an eight man front. The draw play allows us to control the rush. The assignments include:

QB - He pumps fake away and hands ball to RB.
PST - Plays flash and attack.
PSG - Plays flash and attack
C - Ace Blocks to MLB.
BSG - Ace Blocks to MLB.
BST - Plays flash and attack.
RB - Fakes pass protection and then redirects to receive handoff.
H - Inserts on first LB A-gap to the outside and he also watches PST for entry point.

The twirl motion inserts on the first LB to the backside. The QB pump fakes away from the playside and the RB steps up as if he were going through his normal protection. He then redirects and receives the handoff to the opposite side, aiming at the inside foot of the BST. We’ve had a lot of success with this play when the H-back decides to cut the LB. This clears up running lanes for the RB.

I would like to thank all the coaches I’ve had the opportunity to work with. I have learned so much from every individual. I love going to work everyday and working with quality young men and great minds of the game of football. I feel privileged to be apart of this profession and have an effect on a young man’s life. I hope this information can help someone out there become more explosive on offense.






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