Rams Offense-Part 1 the Jet Sweep Series

THE RAMS JET SWEEP SERIES

The Rams use Jet sweep in a variety of ways. They cause problems for defenses because they almost force you to play zone against them in early downs.  This is because they will often run some variations off the jet sweep action.

Here are some of the things the Rams do:

1. Jet Sweep

2. Zone running game off it, with slice blocking the other way

2a. Wide zone off it in the same direction as the jet(good play vs man) with the slice the other way

3. Play action with some half role and boot components with sail, dig and deep over routes

4. Screen game off the jet sweep

5. Throwing it to the motion man off the Jet/zone series

RAMS:

The Rams run so much condensed formations and the Jet Series ties into everything they do. 

The thing the Rams do really well is they run Jet motion with the #1 wr and will often put Cooper Kupp or a really fast wr at the #2 spot. They run other plays from this set so this can cause problems for a defense.

Problem #1 If you play man to man, it opens running lanes and gets a bunch of moving parts. The Rams do this with the Jet but also often bringing the WR they are running at back across the field behind the LOS. That opens huge cutback lanes.

Problem #2 If you try to spin it with the secondary in man, it causes some matchup issues with a  safety on the Jet man or on Kupp in the slot as #2. 

Problem #3 If you play zone you have to  spin it and play cover 3 , It opens up the middle of the field or the perimeter for the sail route off the  play action passing game that the Rams are so good at. 

The Rams use so much Jet sweep motion and have great success with it.  Remember Jet is a motion not a play. 

The Rams like it under center for the following reasons:

1. They can run jet and a complimentary run game off it. They get the defense moving all over the place because they often use #1 WR as the jet man. Well, do you spin it, roll the secondary, bump? 

2. They get great play action off it, freeze lb and create throwing windows. They can also move the qb with some half roll action off it. 

3. They are able to dictate coverage which increases your qb efficiency. They  get a lot of zone coverage on early downs because if you go man they just run jet which is tough to defend in man. This opens up passing lane windows and routes behind the linebackers because of the soft zone you get.

4. By formation and motions you get reactions from the defense. Either you get secondary rotations or teams will bump the linebackers and cause major cut back lanes and great angles for your offensive line and tight ends.  You see this in the 2 clips below.

WIDE ZONE/ZONE  RUN GAME

#1 vs The Giants

Giants are in cover 3 The Rams run wide zone off the Jet with the #1 WR blocking the force defender on the backside of zone. They do a nice job with the slice block and get a nice cut back lane on the backside.

slice block below

Cutback lane opens for the RB

Nice scheme as you see the huge run lane

Here is the film:

#2

The next play on this clip. The Rams are in 12 personnel. They line up 2 tight ends in a tight wing formation  left with a condensed 2 wr set on the right. They run the inside wr in jet motion.

The Bills bump with their linebackers with the Jet Motion but makes them vulnerable. It allows the Rams to get their Offensive tackle up to the SS which is a mismatch after the tight end comes back and blocks the defensive end. 

The Rams will slice block often with both 12 and 11 personnel off the jet action

 It's a simple inside zone scheme but they create good angles for themselves. The center and right guard combo the nose to the mike lb and have easy blocks due to the Jet Motion.The LG and Lt can just go solo because the play side linebacker jumped outside to play the Jet. An excellent designed run play. 12 yard gain. 

Fake the jet and run zone to the same side of the zone. 

Goff on the boot freezes the DE 

            

They Slice block with the WR and creates a nice running lane.

2 video clips are shown :

#2 on the clip is explained below

The next play is run out of 11 personnel. The Rams line up in a bunch set with the tight end as the # 3 wr inside. They run jet motion to their left which causes a reaction with the linebackers. They bump and it allows the right guard and right tackle to get a great double team up to the linebacker. The tight end does a great job with a pancake block on the safety and they  create great angles for themselves. Look at the centers block on the mike. Well designed play and they get a 14 yard gain.

 Rams vs Colts:

Colts in man and CB are traveling with motion and when they go behind the LOS post snap.

Well, the Jet motion gets movement but in this situation, Cooper Kupp coming behind the LOS across like boot opens up the Edge and they get a nice 20 yard gain. 

Nice design as you see the db whose a d gap player go with Kupp which leaves no safety to fold back inside.

Fake the jet and run zone behind it

The tackle rides the De upfield making the read easy for the RB

****Kupp goes across the formation with man coverage and that really opens things up front side***

Again a nice lane as they do a  great  job with the fake jet and slice backside with Kupp

PLAY ACTION

Now lets look at the play action pass game off the jet sweep action. The Jet sweep zone fake option freezes the linebackers and allows the Rams to throw the ball behind defenses. They are very effective at this when getting zone coverages. 

Look at the 2 clips below which are vs. the Bills in week 3:

1. The Rams get a cover 2 look out of the Bills. The Bills cb sits and plays the jet motion man, the linebackers have to play run with the inside zone run action  and look at the hole in the Bills defense.

All the window dressing with the jet opens up the dig

2. In the 3rd quarter the Rams run play action off the jet motion. They   fake the jet and fake the inside zone and run a flood or sail concept to the side of the jet motion. Bills are in cover 2 and that is a very difficult route concept to cover. Again, because the Rams were having so much success with the run game earlier, this set up the play action later in the game. 

Sail route is wide open

#1 post corner

#2 12-15 yard deep out

#3 flat control

Nice design by the Rams

vs The Bears 

Jet sweep and hit the sail routes as the Bears are rotating with the Jet motion and playing cover 3 to it. 

Another example of the sail route.

#2 gets open on the deep out sail concept and Goff throws it.

Bootleg

They also run Bootleg off the Jet sweep. It is a very good play for them either out of 12 or 11 personnel.

JET SWEEP 

Rams ran Jet sweep twice for 24 yards against the Bills.

The first play they run it they run it out of 12 personnel, ace formation. 

You see the action by the offensive tackle that holds the defensive end and play side linebacker. Zone flow away from this play sells it and the tight end arcs and blocks the strong safety. If the tight end continues his path and blocks the safety it may bring even more yardage.

They run Jet sweep again below. Here you see why Jet is dangerous vs man to man. How if you don't spin the coverage as a secondary you can have major issues in man free vs jet motion. Pro teams are more about match ups while you'll see more college teams bring the safety down and put the cb in centerfield with the motion.

NOTE: The Rams know its man free by dictating coverage and that subtle shift with Kupp. They may not run Jet here if they get zone. But, the shift presnap tells them its man free so they run Jet sweep.

Again, they give the defensive end a zone blocking look so they don't have to block him and they get Kupp on the ss. Woods in space against a cb running across the field is a tough thing for a cb. They know the Bills aren't going to spin it and roll the free safety down and put the cb in the middle of the field so its another big 15 yard gain.

MISDIRECTION

The Jet sweep has always been a great play on the goal line because you get some man coverage down there. The Rams take it to another level with the jet reverse.

Again the Rams dictate coverage with shifting pre snap. Once they get the shift they know its man. So, this is a great play design by the Rams. The Eagles try to spin the coverage. The Rams run an out cut with the wr on the bottom to get him out of the picture and all the misdirection with the Jet sweep make it impossible to defend. The cb is responsible for Woods and never gonna get there. Also, they have a lead blocker with the tight end in 11 personnel. 

SCREEN GAME

Here the Run a screen vs the Bears with the Tight End Higbie.

11 personnel, What makes this play is off the play action Kupp releases down the sideline. This forces the play side LB to go with him which widens him and sets up the tackles block on him. This creates a nice lane for Higbie after he catches the screen. Nice 18 yard gain.

NIcely developed screen

Excellent route and design on the screen.

Kupp stretches things vertically which opens up the screen.

Vs The Eagles

The Rams also run screens with it. They run the Jet,zone action and just run a simple screen back to the rb. They ran the same play against the Bills in week 3. Same misdirection with traditional screen blocking. The Eagles are in zone coverage and don't do a horrible job sniffing it out. But, the Rams still get the ball out and get 12 yards on it.

The next video shows the Rams running Jet screen to the wr in motion. They Rams dictate the coverage again and run it vs zone coverage.  Just that subtle motion tells them its zone. They do a good job getting out on it and hit the Cowboys for a big gain. They run it to perfection with both guards and the center getting down field for a 30 yard gain.

Another nice design by the Rams on the screen.

The 2nd time they run screen vs the Cowboys they do it with the running back. Again, they fake the jet, inside run game off it and hit the running back for a big game. You see how well they package the plays and make it very difficult to defend.

The Jet series is just a part of what makes the Rams offense go. 

Next up, Bootleg

Defending the Army & Navy Triple Option

Defending the Triple Option:

From working as an offensive coach in the triple option, it helped give me an understanding of the triple option and what they are trying to accomplish. I worked with Jameson Croall at USMMA, who in my opinion is one of the best option coaches in the country. He does things a little differently because he uses so many unbalanced and end over formations as well as personnel groupings which can cause so many issues defensively. But, I did learn some valuable lessons and here is how I would defend the t triple.

But, that being said here are some tools for defending the  triple option:

1. Whether you are a 3-4 or 4-3 team you must rub to dive. You're defensive tackles in a 3-4 or your defensive ends in a 4-3 must try to collision the tackles and not allow them to free release to the next level.Keep the OT off your LB! I've ran 3-4, 4-3, 4-4 and 3-3 stack over the years. All have merit. Decide what you want to do and have a solid plan in place but you better rub to dive.

2. LB and secondary should read the slots. Teach near/to far slot read concepts. In the triple option, the slots take you to the play 95% of the time. Arc release, true triple, inside release midline with no pitch threat. Imperative that you teach your OLB and Safeties to read slots. High motion vs quick motion, high motion where ball is snapped behind qb is usually rocket toss series.

 
Twirl Motion: Trap or counter option back your way are the 2 most common plays you will see with twirl but they can essentially run anything with twirl.

3. Less is more, I've worked with coaches that try to put in 8 new defenses to defeat the triple. The best coaches against the triple get bored in the game because the game plan is simplistic. You don't need a ton of calls.  Switch the responsibilities up, feather at times, fast play at others and mix in a few cross charges,  but you don't need that many different calls.  

4. Get lined up to the heavy and end over formations. Have your checks in and your automatic calls. You should have specific rules to these formations.

5. Take advantage of some motion blitzes and stunts. Use your CB in the run game by pressing  or possible bringing him at times with the motion. Hard to block a CB fire in the triple. The SE won't block him and the slot is forced to kick him out if anything. A Very effective pressure!

6. Understand that option teams throw the ball to score. Be sound in your coverage but you really don't need to focus on underneath zones with your LB's. My opinion LB's read pass, add in to the pressure. Option teams throw vertically, underneath zones are not often threatened.

7. As a defense I want the ball pitched. People may disagree with that theory but I do everything in my power to string it out and get the ball pitched vs triple teams. I force the pull as often as  I can and get the ball out on the edge where are speed takes over and runs it down. Again, this is just my philosophy. 

8. Responsibilities: Make sure everyone understands their job. Dive player, qb player and pitch player. Try to get a plus 1 when you can. What I mean is if you're de/dt is rubbing for dive and they do their job, your LB should be on a path to the QB. That means your safety can play qb to pitch with your OLB playing pitch. You are getting a half man defender added.

9. Understand flexed sets: They run these condensed sets to try to get the ball out on the perimeter.

10. Understand the #'s and how the blocking will develop off their counts on the perimeter. Very important to understand the system and how it operates. Who they will read for dive, will load block at times and pitch off the perimeter.   

11. Work your cut drills in practice!

12. Movement and stunts have their purpose. You can move on the interior to try to give different looks. Teams have lined up head up and moved or show a 3 tech and 2i and move the other way. All have merit. It can play games with the dive key and cause confusion at times for the QB. 

Let's look at some of the topics discussed above.

Rub to Dive:

Navy Dt in a 3 techique vs Army. You can see the DT  really get a piece of the Guard and not allow him to get to the LB.

In their 4-3 the right DE on Air force rubs to dive allowing the LB to defeat the OT block. The DE displaces the OT enough to make the LB effective.

See the DE rub the OT and cause him to miss the LB.

Air Force does a great job rubbing to dive.

Read the slots:

It is pivotal that your slots and safeties read the slots.  Near slot to far slot if he goes in motion. He will take your OLB and Safeties to the play. 

Slot inserts: Midline/Belly (ball run between the tackles)

Slot arc release: Triple option/ lead option/ toss and ball possibly out on the perimeter! Important to understand for QB/pitch defenders.

Here you see them insert the slot, that's midline series, You will rarely every see the ball pitched, It is a design FB or qb run. 

Left DT is rubbing to dive against 50 and not allowing the RG to get to the LB at the next level.

Another example: Slot inserts, midline/follow. Very rarely does an inserting slot lead to a wide running perimeter play. Always a. midline/follow/belly type play.

CB Fire and stunts:

Some people like to blitz LB's and CB's on motion. Have seen both be effective. 

Navy runs a CB motion fire: Motion your way, blitz off the edge. Nice job as the CB goes untouched vs the triple. 

Unbalanced Formations

The most popular set you will see is a heavy set and you'll get a tremendous amount of belly out of it. Some times they will bring the tackle over in the right tight end spot and run it from the unbalanced look with the wing and split end over. (see below) 

Condensed sets: Condensed sets  want to get the ball out on the perimeter. You will often see the rocket toss and lead option out of condensed looks. 

Navy goes condensed on the right  and tries to run lead option that way. 

Passing Game:

Option teams throw to hit the big play after they lull you to sleep. Most times it's 7 man protection with the fullback and backside slot in motion blocking. 

Most teams will run play action with 2 verticals or the switch route.

The other play you will see is bootleg off the rocket toss.

Other than that they will break the bone and go shotgun and throw the football on those passing downs.

Wheel Route

Post option backside

Your defensive backs need to be disciplined and be able to match up and communicate with the different 2 man vertical patterns you will see. 

All in all, I hope you found this article interesting on how to defend option teams. 

I hope you found this article interesting on how to defend the triple option.