r/NFLNoobs • u/hossi80 • 3d ago
Questions around the pre-snap motion and it's scenarios
Is there a position that normally does the pre-snap motion, will there be particular tactics to look out for?
And what scenarios would a team use this.
Cheers, a new NFL fan from Australia
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u/IamGleemonex 3d ago
There are only 3 positions who can do presnap motion: WR, TE, and RB. There are several reasons to do it:
- Seeing what the defense does to react
- Lining up in one look, and then moving to another look at the last second to change things before the snap for the defense
- Shifting blocking assignments for a running play based on how the defense is lined up
- Letting the player in motion get a running (albeit laterally) start on the play.
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u/Not_your_profile 3d ago
Good explanation. To expand a little bit, only one player may be in motion at a time and cannot move towards the line of scrimmage.
A shift is slightly different and others can likely expand on those rules better than I can. A player can shift towards or away from the line but the player must fully reset (stop) before the snap.
The end of the line must always be "sealed", in other words, one player beyond the tackle (a TE or WR) must be set on the line of scrimmage before the snap. For this reason, you'll often see one WR step forwards and reset before the other player goes in motion.
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u/grizzfan 2d ago
It's not limited to positions. It's limited to players off the line of scrimmage. I want to emphasize that, because I've seen fans get locked into position names since that's what they were told, so if a team puts a lineman in the backfield for example, it contradicts the verbiage of "only X positions can motion."
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u/IamGleemonex 2d ago
I mean I guess, but if they put a lineman in as an eligible receiver, he is playing as a TE or FB, which are eligible position to motion.
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u/thewunderbar 2d ago
Any eligible can be in motion at the snap. Technically the quarterback can, though that wouldn't make much sense most of the time. But there have been many a trick play in the past where a QB goes in motion and it's a direct snap to the running back.
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u/Longjumping-Salad484 3d ago
the entire game is about deception. the offense wants to trick the defense. motion is one tool in that.
motion is restricted to any movement that is toward the line of scrimmage, that's why you'll only see motion that runs parallel to the line of scrimmage
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u/BrokenHope23 3d ago
For full clarity, you'll want to review the NFL rulebook Rule 7, Sections 4 and 5
They are very long sections so I won't copy/paste as some of what they state isn't entirely relevant (they sandwiched some rules within other rules) and can be confusing for a new fan but if you can google the terms to better understand the designations then you can infer a lot of clarity.
The cliff notes are:
motions are different from shifts, shifts will involve one up to every player on the offense and all players must be stationary for 1s before the snap of the ball when the shift occurs. Normally we'll see 2-3 guys perform a shift as an audible to change the play but sometimes we get the whole offense, including the QB, shifting in a trick play type formation.
Motioning is a multi-layered term to designate either a single player who is moving while the ball is being snapped but also incorporates any singular motions which can also include players who aren't allowed to move while the ball is being snapped, it can get confusing to explain. Anyone can motion technically (even the QB) but if you motion a player who was off the line of scrimmage then you can snap while they motion. If you motion a guy who was on the line of scrimmage then that player must come to a complete stop for 1s prior to the ball being snapped. A QB in the T formation (under center compared to 5 yards back) is considered on the line of scrimmage and must come to a complete stop for 1s before the ball is snapped.
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u/Person51389 3d ago
Almost always WR running from one side to the other. This tells QB if it's a man following him for man coverage, or otherwise zone. Sometimes TEs shift, but often for a running play to one side. Rbs uncommonly shift, but again usually only for an audible, or to help with pass protection from a blitz the QB thinks will come from the other side.
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u/grizzfan 2d ago
Only players off the LOS can go in motion, and they must be moving backwards or laterally if they are to be in motion at the snap.
Reasons to use motion:
- To help identify the defensive scheme.
- To create a numbers advantage in the passing game by overloading the coverage.
- To create a numbers advantage in the running game by overloading a side with blockers.
- Inversely, to lighten the coverage away from the motion to open up space for 1-on-1 matchup.
- Inversely, to get defenses to shift their numbers with motion to open up the running game away from the motion.
- To get a key receiver out of a press situation.
- To get a player moving full speed pre-snap.
- To feed the ball to a receiver or another player that isn't normally in a RB alignment.
- To force defenses into coverages, stunts, or looks that the offense intends to take advantage of (through week-to-week scouting).
- To try to gain a 1-on-1 mismatch in the passing game.
- To create "formations" that would normally cause a defense to adjust, but fail to do so since it's a motion, not a formation change. For example, you motion a WR to create a 2-back set, but the speed of the motion makes it so the defense doesn't recognize it, nor can adjust in time to however they normally defend a 2-back set.
- To simply get defenses out of their comfort zone and create confusion with their adjustments.
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u/geek_fire 3d ago
Two rules to be aware of, which the other responder alluded to: only one player can be in motion at the snap, and it must be laterally or backwards. Zero players can be in motion toward the line of scrimmage at the snap.