Using Jet Motions to Open Running Lanes like the Rams & 49ers

The Rams & 49ers use many different variations of Jet Motion to create massive running lanes. How do they do it?

Jet motion can be a cheap way to make a defense uncomfortable, but if we truly want to open running lanes, there is a lot more to the story. In this article, we’ll cover the different kinds of Jet motions, the need for multiple calls, and what each means for the blocking surface. At the end, there will also be a 24+ minute cutup for the different ways some of these Jet motions were used by the Rams and 49ers in 2023.

JET SWEEP

The hallmark of the package is the Jet Sweep, but the Shanahan/McVay system (and most others in the NFL) run it differently than most lower level offenses. As a base rule, they don’t block for the Jet Sweep. Specifically in the Shanahan/McVay system, the Jet Sweep is more so a counter play for when the defense stops honoring the possibility of handing the ball to the motion man. Instead of blocking for the Jet Sweep, they provide the same visual stimulus of a run play to the other side and expect the same reaction of the defense under-playing the Jet.

“Jet” is the term to be used when the play caller wants the ball handed to the motion man.

FLY MOTION

“Fly” is a motion call to put a player in motion with the appearance of Jet, but “Fly” in their system (as far as I can tell) is primarily a passing game call. It’s important to be able to present a Jet stimulus to a defense and still pass the ball. Otherwise, defenses would auto-check to max blitzes as soon as the motion started.

DELTA/PLANE MOTIONS

“Fly” is generally a pass game call, and “Delta” and “Plane” are run game calls. “Delta” is Fly motion away from the run play, and “Plane” is Fly motion to the run play. It is vital to have separate calls for these as it relates to the blocking surface, and we’ll dive into that down below.

“Virgin” is a bit more popular of a term in this system for play-side Fly motion, but since I have seen “Plane” in some of the recent playbook leaks from this system, I will be using that as my new term for play-side Fly motion.

SPIRIT MOTION

Spirit motion might be the most fun of the bunch. It isn’t, in my opinion, 100% of a “Jet Motion,” but due to its name, I feel like it deserves to be mentioned. The nomenclature for these motions all have to deal with aircraft or their companies, and Spirit is among them.

I differentiate Spirit a bit because it doesn’t take the motion out to the flat. Instead, he motions directly into his block at the snap. The 49ers used it frequently to run Zorro and YF Counter. The Rams used it frequently for the kick out on Duo. It’s a great motion, an honorable mention, but unlike the other motions, I don’t feel like its use cases are as aligned with the others covered.

WHY?

Not including Spirit motion, there are 4 different ways to prevent the same pre-snap stimulus to a defense. Are they necessary at the high school level? Why or why not? What effects does each have on a defense? The rest of the article will answer those questions!