The jet sweep package is one of those things that every coach, no matter what their base offense is, can implement into their package to complement what they already do. 

Coach Bruce Eien presents the jet sweep package from a spread and single wing perspective, but the principles he discusses here can be translated into whatever you do.

Why run it?

Whenever you put in a new play or scheme, the most important question you need to answer is "why".

If you don't have a good reason to do something, it won't give you the results you're looking for, and will most likely waste your time and the talent you have on your team.

Coach Eien gives some great reasons why he does what he does in the video below (The Shotgun Jet Sweep: Overview, Drills, and Practice Plan):

Like he says in the video, the defense has to account for four potential runners in this offensive package. Not only that, but you have the ability to use formations and create 10 different gaps that the defense has to be concerned with.

Not only do you have four potential runners, but you also have four or five potential receivers, depending on the specific formation and play. That's a tall order for any defense to handle.

What ends up happening is that the offense spreads the field, whether by the structure of the formation, or the threat of the jet sweep.

Outside Run Game - Jet Sweep

In the video below (The Shotgun Jet Sweep: Outside Run Game), Coach Eien gives one example of how to run the jet sweep against a front he sees a lot of, the odd-stack, or 3-3-5 defense. You can watch the video or just scroll down to see a summary.

The 3-3 stack is a tough front to run against, but Coach Eien has a plan for it, and it starts with the jet sweep.

The rules are as follows:

• Zone up the backside of the play
• The offensive line should be aware of slanting defensive linemen as they come off combos to the second level.
• Frontside receivers block down on their inside defender, while the FB blocks out on the corner to create room in the alley.
• The ball carrier reads the block of the FB and can go several different ways.

Inside Run Game - Jet 31 Trap

How do you adjust when the defense starts to key in on the sweep? Coach Eien explains one of his favorite counters to the sweep below in this video (The Shotgun Jet Sweep: Inside-Run Game):

The trap play can be very effective against this kind of defensive front, especially when they're more concerned with defending the perimeter.

Coach Eien explains the rules for the offensive line this way: Somebody's trapping, somebody's covering for him, everyone else is getting a backer.

Rules:

• Center has no one to cover for him, so they double the nose to clean up the hole.
• They have everyone shoot for the Mike, but can redirect based on any immediate threat.
• The guard traps the 1st man past the center
• FB takes a side-step to time it up.
• QB boots away from the trap.

Want to learn more?

Check out all of Bruce Eien's videos here