Using Motion Within Your Offense

1. QB must let the entire offense be set for one full count prior to initiating the motion.

2. Motion man must be aligned legally off the LOS prior to going in motion. His helmet cannot intersect any part of an offensive lineman’s (or Tight End’s) hip or leg.

3. QB must understand where he wants the motion man to be as the ball is snapped. Motion man needs to know this as well.

4. Motion man must move parallel or away from LOS.

5. Motion man will keep eyes up field, reading defensive adjustments to his motion. Read point of attack on run plays. Be aware of who might cover you or the zone you are attacking on pass plays.

6. On all motion calls, the motion man can control his location by chopping his feet prior to snap. This prevents him from over running area.

7. All motion schemes demand that the motion man go fast but under control.

8. All motions will be initiated by the QB. If under center, QB will lift his near foot to trigger motion man. Motion man must wait until QB’s foot hits the ground before starting. If in the gun, QB will point to the motion man.

9. To insure that the entire offense is set for one full count, the motion man can delay going in motion for one full count after QB triggers him.

10. Must allow all shifts to be complete and offense set for one count before starting any other motion. Again, to insure that the entire offense is set, the motion man can delay going in motion.

11. If the designated man, while in motion, sees another offensive player move, he should come to a complete stop. He should allow offensive player to set then begin motion again.

12. All motions are off if an audible is called or the play is changed from the sideline.




1. Cause a rotation in the secondary or adjustment by the linebackers
This seems "harmless" enough for the defense but there is still a communication that must take place defensively. This type of motion generally affects the strength (of formation as a whole or receiver strength) which could have an affect on the responsibilities of the defensive players. This works best versus teams that prefer to play certain zone coverages versus specific formations. [example: "if offense is in 2x2 we will play cover 2. if they align in 3x1 we will play cover 3."] What you are doing is showing them one formation and allowing them to make their calls. Then, you are changing that formation which means they must communicate the new coverage or be forced to play the original coverage versus your new formation. Again, this is not a 'killer' for the defense. However, if they have any type of breakdown in their communication (do we stay with same blitz? do we switch it? who now has flat? etc.) you could possibly have a receiver going through an open zone. Likewise, if they feel they are not capable of continually making the proper checks, they may just stay in their original coverage --- WHICH, means you get to dictate what they are in and can set up your pass routes to your advantage.

2. Allow for a better release for a specific route
This generally works best against man but can be well suited for zone, also. If they are playing man, the defender must run with the receiver in such a manner that he must try to maintain his ability to play the receiver on both a vertical release and a horizontal release. So, if trained properly, a receiver in motion should be able to execute the majority of his routes from the "motioning" position, i.e. on the move. The best types of motioned routes are things such as flat routes, arrows, rails, and shallow crosses (if motion not all the way across the formation). The defender is often in a trail position and may give the receiver an extra step which could be vital in the success of the play. At the same time, it is much harder for the defender to jam the receiver off the line as the receiver is already on the move and the defender is in a poor position to press and jam due to his movement. Versus zone coverage, motion could affect either the entire coverage or the spacing of those defenders involved. This may cause a "hole" player to widen which will create a better release for a receiver inside of him (and vice-versa). For both coverages, motioning one receiver past another receiver can add to possible communication problems (do we switch off? bump over? etc.) and add to the advantageous release for a receiver.

3. Create new spacing within our formation
Motion is great for changing the formation and are closely all players are aligned at the snap. This works well for both run or pass plays. Motioning to a "compressed" or bunched formation provides more blockers at the point of attack and gives receivers (not known for their blocking skills) the chance to help each other with natural double teams and "trash" defenders have to run through. Obviously, the use of mesh or "rub" routes can be exploited well through motion. Defenses usually have a check they go to versus a team that aligns in a bunched formation. Aligning in a "normal" formation then motioning to bunch will cause either communication to occur for the defense to check to its "bunch coverage" or they will play the original call. Again, you are creating a chance for a breakdown or setting up a route versus a coverage the defense doesn't really want to play.

4. Provide for a better blocking angle or numbers advantage on run plays
This ties in to the previous objective of spacing. Get more players to the point of attack. Motioning a player so that he is inside-out of a defender that he must kick out. Motioning AWAY from the play to bring a defender closer to the formation so he can be blocked. This is often used versus man where you are taking a player away from the play but it also may work to your advantage in causing a rotation and the force player has changed (went from safety to corner, etc.). Through personnel matchups, it may be better for you to bring the corner closer for the lead blocker on a sweep rather than leave him out in space and have the safety run the alley.

5. Affect defenders eyes at the snap
This is often overlooked. This type of motion is strictly "window dressing" but it can have a useful purpose for you. It is natural for our eyes to be attracted to movement, whether in our direct line of sight or our peripheral vision. Any extra input the brain processes takes time... not much, of course, but it can be enough to allow an offensive player to have taken one or two steps before the defender reacts. This also plays well for teams that use misdirection and in-depth backfield actions. It's all about "input" for the defender to process. I have found that motioning away from the formation tends to be the best type of motion in this category.



1. Versus Man Coverage.
Teams that play man coverage have two choices to make when a player goes in motion -- run or bump. Running with the motion man is the most common and can allow a receiver to get a much better release on the defender. Bumping (defender running to the next receiver then passing off the motion man to that defender) can create communication breakdowns, especially when you have motioned to a compressed look.

2. Versus Heavy Stunt and/or Blitz.
When teams like to stunt & blitz alot in a game, motion can have an enormous effect. Motion that changes strength (shifting included) creates pressure on the defense to communicate that the stunt or blitz must now be changed to the other side. If they do not communicate well, they may very well stunt themselves into a big play for the offense. Their last option is to call the stunt off -- which is what you would probably prefer, otherwise, why motion...?

3. Versus Formation Specific Defenses (coverages).
Many teams play certain fronts/stunts/coverages versus specific offensive sets. Showing them one formation then changing that formation causes mass communication to occur OR they must play a defense (coverage) they really don't like to play versus that set. This can also create better matchups for the offense as to which defender has the flat or who is the force, etc.



1. Changing the coverage just prior to the snap could affect QB or receiver execution.
Adjustments may take place on the defensive side that are not adequately recognized or processed by the offense and can lead to breakdowns in the play. All players must recognize the change that occured (or lack thereof) and execute their responsibilities accordingly. If you are a team that requires a receiver to run certain routes based on coverage then it is vital that all players understand how to process defensive adjustments.

2. Shifts or motions could affect the blocking scheme.
Just like this may cause receivers or QB's to be confused, it can cause the offensive lineman to have breakdowns in their jobs, as well. This is not a major problem with most zone schemes or down-block schemes. However, if you are employing some type of man-blocking schemes it is very important for the offensive lineman to have their eyes up and brains alert for shifts by the defenisve front.

3. Shifts and motions take time.
This can be somewhat problematic for teams that always seem to get in and out of the huddle late. Delay of game penalties could occur if all offensive players aren't at the line of scrimmage at the proper time (we want to be aligned -- at the very minimum -- with at least 10 seconds left on play clock). Another thing to consider, especially later in the game, is that the offensive lineman may have to hold their stances a little longer than normal. Staying in that stance may have them coming off the ball more lethargic than under normal circumstances.


Motion should be a weapon for the offense when used properly. We try to establish our motion plan every week. If we feel that motions or shifts give us a minimal amount of advantage, then we use less. If teams have shown a tendency to have problems with motion, we use more. All in all, having a purpose and laying out those objectives makes your use of motions a much greater offensive weapon.

interesting thank huey

Did you actual read that.. Here this is what it says without having read it.
MOTION CAUSES EMOTION..
I feel like a genius for being able to explain something in few words that took somebody else 5000,000 words to explain....lol

Motion can be a very valuable tool if you can get the other team to get out of position or get a mismatch on coverages(ex. slow LB on RB or rec. or small DB on bigger TE)

it makes reading coverage easier for qb and wr.

oh and it makes defensive players adjust on the fly = emotion.

great article as usual huey.

This was a super article. Way to go guys.

good show everyone

Thanks....it comes natural..........

Well you outdid yourself my friend, kudos

Looks like you did to with the ole trumpit, or tuba, what ever it is. Cant tell you where the rust came from but I bet if you look hard enough you can find it.lol Sorry I could resisit. lol

the rust came from pooch. he's been working all day

lol

You should know QC, you have probably givcen a few in your time, or recieved i mean i dont want to question from whom?

Ax likes lots of lube when he uses motion

have to man........its all about friction resistance