The QB Trap Off Jet Action
Posted on August 8, 2011 by xandolabs in Offense
"Our goal for this trap play is to get people thinking jet, get the defense moving laterally, and use the QB trap away from that motion." Dan Ellis, Head Coach, W.C. East High School
By Dan Ellis
Head Football Coach
W.C. East High School
Researcher’s Note: This is the second report in X&O Labs’ QB Runs Series by Dan Ellis. Coach Ellis is documenting his most effective QB runs: The QB Power Read, QB Trap and QB Midline.
We are a shotgun, fast pace, no-huddle offense with a zone scheme – and we also will add pistol in as well. This allows us to take advantage of our athleticism and numbers at the skill positions and it uses our supposed “weakness” – smaller, more athletic lineman – to our advantage.
With our offense, our QB must be able to run the football and be a weapon that the defense must account for. He does not need to be a 1,000 yard rusher; he just needs to keep the defense honest with his feet.
One of our key QB runs is our trap off of jet action. We run jet motion and jet a lot throughout a game. Our goal for this trap play is to get people thinking jet, get the defense moving laterally, and use the QB trap away from that motion. This gives us a great counter. Our QB series of runs hits to the same side of the action with our QB Power, the QB Midline hits the middle of the defense, and now our QB Trap hits away from the action. All three plays give the added benefit of using the QB as a true threat.
To Access Coach Ellis’ QB Power Read Report: Click Here
Here are our rules upfront for our QB Trap:
- PST: Gap away, backer
- PSG: Gap away, backer
- C: Gap away, backer
- BSG: Gap away, backer
- BST: Pull, kick first man outside PST
- QB: Step skip and ride the jet motion player, read back-side C gap defender (often the d-end)
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QB Trap vs. Base 4-4:
Against a base 4-4, this is the way we would block it (diagram 1). Through formations, we would like to manipulate the situation so we could trap the defensive end to the 1 tech side. This gives us an opportunity to secure the play side DT and LB without having a 3 tech possibly causing trouble by getting up hill.
QB Trap vs. Odd Front:
Against an odd front (3-4 or 3-3 stack) this is how it would look (diagram 2). One concern against the odd front is the nose getting up field and creating penetration for the pulling tackle. We stress to the center and PSG that they must not give up penetration.
QB Trap vs. 50 Front:
Against a 50 front, with one defensive end in a 4I and the other in a 5 tech, we would like to trap the defensive end in a 5 tech (diagram 3).
QB Trap with Back in Backfield:
We prefer to run this play with jet motion, but it can also be used with a back in the backfield running the same action. Our goal is to be able to use all of our QB runs with the jet motion and with a back in the backfield. This allows us to run our schemes from various formations and motions and keeps defensive coordinators from getting a game planning edge (diagram 4).
This play also has the added benefit of slowing down the defense’s pursuit on our outside zone and jet plays. They know that they must stay home and not over pursue and sell out on the zone or jet. Again, keeping the defense honest. If the defense has tremendous speed, it has the added benefit of slowing them down.
Conclusion:
The QB Trap is a tremendous counter play that complements our zone schemes and other QB running plays. From the defensive perspective, the line action also appears to be our zone scheme. It complements our run game and has often hit at opportune times for big yards.
>>> Coach Dan Ellis has agreed to answer your questions. Please post your comments or questions in the “Comments” section below and Coach Ellis will respond shortly.
Copyright X&O Labs 2011
23 Responses to “The QB Trap Off Jet Action”
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November 7, 2011
[...] Researcher’s Note: This is the third report in X&O Labs’ QB Runs Series by Dan Ellis. Here are the links to Coach Ellis’ previous two reports documenting his most effective QB runs: The QB Power Read and The QB Trap Off Jet Action. [...]
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November 27, 2011
[...] QB Power Read: A Constant 4-Yard Steal [...]
Hello Coach Ellis, this is Greg Lewis…I just had a quick question. Do you think I can pull the BSG to reach and kick out the end or first threat. Instead of having him reach to the backer. And just have the End seal off back side?
Greg, that is absolutely one way you can run it. Especially if that marries up with another trap play you may run. I’m a big believer in KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid. If it works with what you’re doing, then keep it consistent.
There are two reasons why I like pulling the tackle. First, it looks more like our jet or outside zone to the defense. Second, a lot of ILB’s are taught to read backfield action through their near guard. By pulling the tackle, it influences those ILB’s to flow with the motion.
But again, if it works with what you are already doing, it certainly won’t hurt to run it.
Coach You are GREAT! hay I want to personally thank you for the work, and dedication you put in. You are a huge inspiration.
Thanks Greg, I appreciate it. Just like talking football I guess.
Coach, love the play. How do you account for the fold player at the point of attack. When we run jet and then counter back the fold player is a major player in stopping the play.
Jon, if that’s the case, we motion the outside player instead of the inside player. Often times, that’s a better athlete for us anyway, so it adds to the jet action.
By having the slot back on the line and tighter, he is in a position to dig out that fold player you are talking about.
Then its one on one with a corner and realistically, we want our QB to be a threat and get us 4-5 yards. If he’s a super athlete, now we have a good athlete on a good athlete.
Hope that helps Jon.
The other option, sorry I didn’t mention this the first time, is to run with the back in the backfield. For us, we run a lot of outside zone out of doubles so it marries up well.
Some people play 4i on both sides. If so do you not run the play?
Jake, what else are you getting? If you are lined up in doubles and getting two 4I’s, are they putting people outside as a contain rusher?
If they have 7 guys in the box, like a true 50 with 2 4I’s and we’re lining up in doubles, then we’re going to have trouble running this play. Including the QB, we only have 6 to account for their 7. They are daring you to throw it.
One alternative could be to line up in Ace and run it with two tight ends in the game. That will balance out the defense a little more and the trap will hit a little wider than if you were in a true doubles.
A TE would definitely help out a little. Especially out pro Right twins. Outside release the TE or out block on 9.
But you still have a 4i weak side. Which makes it tough. I wish we got people to play 5′s on us in a 3-4 scheme. Most of the teams we phay will play 5 strong and 4 weak. Or both 4′s.
Just trying to figure a way to run this play. Like vs a 4-3 for sure.
One thing that we did against the 4I is to wrap the trapper instead of kicking out. We’ve blocked out with the guard on the 4I and the tackle on the rush end/LB and wrapped the tackle to the PS LB.
Coach,
You only have 10 players on the field, do you have a TE and run empty when using this play, where would you put the back if not in pistol, toward the motion side, or way from the motion side to give the illusion he is lead blocking for the jet player in motion?
away* from the motion side . . .sorry about the error
Sorry, the copy didn’t go all the way through with the diagram. There is another receiver off to the right hand side, like a true doubles formation.
We do not often use a TE, but that’s simply based off of our personnel.
With the back, we would put him opposite the motion guy as you mentioned, so he would be our lead on the jet sweep.
Coach,
First of all, I too, appreciate all of your efforts. This is a fantastic site.
Do you like this vs. 3-3 Stack(6 in the box)? Can you share with us how you would block it? Thanks.
The rules of the play do not really block change. If you look at the odd front or the 50 look, it is essentially the same. The one big difference for our PST is that instead of working to the inside MLB, he will work up the stack towards the SLB and block whoever appears in that B gap (DE stunting or LB stunting). I’m trying below to convey
I know this is crude, but it won’t let me copy and paste into this comment box.
WLB MLB SLB
DE N DE
BST BSG C PSG PST
The C and PSG will work the middle stack to the MLB and the PST will be essentially sifting the DE to the SLB. If the DE stunts to the B gap, the tackle will block him and the BST pulling will kick out the stunting LB.
Hope that explains it coach.
Sorry, that didn’t post correctly, I’ll try it again here.
WLB ——– MLB ——– SLB
DE ———- N ——— DE
BST — BSG — C — PSG — PST
Coach ellis,
Against a 40 is the thinking that the backside end will not squeeze down to catch the qb or will the jet mesh slow him down?
A little bit of both. We don’t think the DE will make that play given the backfield action at him. If he does happen to squeeze, we’re handing the ball off.
Have you ever thought about running exact same look, but giving to the RB or JB against overly aggressive/fast flow or undisciplined defenders?
Absolutely coach. We build it into the play for just that occasion. Rare but it’s there for any overly aggressive players.