Defensive Reactions to Jet Motion
Breaking down a few different reactions to this popular motion
When coaching defence in Canadian football, offensive Motion must always be top of mind. Many of our offensive counterparts do a great job utilizing the Canadian Motion rules to try and gain an advantage with numbers or leverage, so we must make our defensive players comfortable with Motion adjustments. This is especially true when it comes to Jet Motion.
What is Jet Motion?
For the purpose of this article, Jet Motion will be occurring here from an initial 32 Formation. (In reality, of course, the “Jetting” player could be coming from any set.) Therefor Jet Motion refers here to the Boundary #2 Receiver coming across the Formation very late — right at the Snap or just before the Snap.
Why is my opponent using Jet Motion?
What is your opponent’s overall philosophy when it comes to using Jet Motion? This is a key question. Does your opponent like to hand the ball off to the Jetting player? Is the Jetting player coming across the formation to block in the Run Game? Is your opponent Jetting in the hopes you will overplay the Jet so they can attack you backside? Taking a deep dive into this question will help you frame your answers when game planning against Jet Motion.
What might a Jetting Receiver do?
There are many different tasks a Jetting Receiver might execute on any given play. Regardless of your adjustment, you should have your adjusting player ready for these scenarios:
Jetting Receiver gets the ball for a Jet Sweep
Jetting Receiver releases into a Pass Route
Jetting Receiver blocks the backside Defensive End in the Run Game
Jetting Receiver adds into the Pass Pro
Jetting Receiver is a decoy for a play going the other direction
Option #1: Tracking the Jet
One possible answer is to Track the Jetting player. This means that one defender, likely the Boundary Half, will follow the Jetting Receiver across the Formation. Technique here is key. Often you will ask your Tracking player to stay on the Back Hip of the Receiver. This will prevent the Tracking defender from allowing a cutback if the Jetting Receiver gets the ball.
Coaching Point: As shown in the diagram below, if you Track the #2 Receiver, you are leaving an isolated Boundary Corner on the offence’s #1 Receiver. This may or may not be something you are willing to do based on system, personnel or game plan.
Pros to Tracking the Jet:
Only one defender needs to see the Jet and react
Tracking defender is in good position to Add In to the Run Game if the Jetting Receiver stops and blocks
Keeps things simple if you are in Man to Man Coverage
Cons to Tracking the Jet:
Tracking defender must work hard to remain on Back Hip of Jetting player, especially if Jetting player has a lot of speed
If your opponent sees this early, they could try and attack you on the backside
Coaching Point: When Tracking the Jet in Zone Coverage, you will need a plan in place if the Jetting Receiver continues out on a Pass Route. Does the Tracking defender LOCK the route, or join the ZONE?
Option #2: Rotate (Spin)
Another possible answer is to Rotate (aka Spin) versus the Jet Motion. This means your Free Safety will adjust down towards the side of the Jet, and the Boundary Half will go high to replace the Free Safety.
Pros to Rotating versus Jet:
Your Free Safety is closer to the Field Side, has less distance to travel when adjusting to the Jet, and might be in a better position to execute the necessary assignment on the play.
You can often disguise this adjustment a little better than a Track
Cons to Rotating versus Jet:
Communication is key to ensure the Boundary Half replaces the Free Safety
This adjustment gets more complicated if the offence starts Jetting out of different Formations
Boundary Half must work hard to truly replace Free Safety versus a Pass
Further Considerations
At the end of the day, your adjustment to Jet Motion will need to fit into your overall defensive scheme. It’s beneficial to have your Jet adjustment match your Quads adjustment — as this Jet Motion is simply creating a late Quads Formation — though this is not always possible due to the late timing of the Jet.
There are a few other options you could consider when defending the Jet. You could “BUMP” all of your defenders across, though this takes a lot of communication. Another option would be to simply DO NOTHING. If you suspect your opponent is Jetting to the Field in order to attack the Boundary, you could leave your Boundary Half at home and take your chances to the Field.
As stated above, once your opponent starts Jetting from different Formations you will have some work to do. How will your reaction change when the Jetting Receiver is #3 from the Boundary? Or #2 from the Field? These are big questions to consider.
As always, thanks for reading. This topic was actually sent to me from one of our readers, so feel free to reach out to me if there’s anything else you’d like to see.
All the best!
Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
IG: @jonsvecx
Twitter: @jonsvecx
Great conversation. The one option I don't see here is bumping. Having the Sam LB bounce out to cover the jet and the MLB, WLB and BHB all bump over one spot into their respective run fit gaps.
Pros:
Sam is the closest defensive player to the jet and is able to shoot and make aggressive tackles for loss.
Keeps defensive backfield structure in place for ease of coverage.
Cons:
LB movement can be confusing if trying to bump over a gap at full speed. Higher chance of a breakdown on your run fits.