Why do football offenses send a man in motion? In football, the offense may send a man in motion to throw off the defense. The objective of a football game is to always try to stay ahead of your opponent...
The objective of a football game is to always try to stay ahead of your opponent by keeping them guessing as to what you are going to do next. Offensively, there are several ways to keep a defense guessing as to what you are going to do. One of the more common ways is by sending a man in motion.
A very simple play, sending a man in motion could expose a defense's weaknesses and allow for a big play. Current offensive coordinator and former wide receiver in the National Football League, Reggie Barlow has gone in motion several times in his life and understands the concept behind sending a man in motion.
"It depends on the offense, but a lot of people think that the motion is used to throw off the defense by getting a guy out of alignment," he said. "Whether it's making the defensive line shift or the secondary shift, the offense uses the motion to see what kind of defense the defensive unit is lined up in."
The receiver that goes in motion varies and depends solely on the play that has been called. Also, any player that lines up in the backfield can go in motion. While wide receivers are usually the players going in motion, tight ends and running backs also move in motion.
One of the more important tips to remember for any receiver going in motion is that they can not be moving towards the line of scrimmage when going in motion. At all times, they can only move parallel to the line and must be in the backfield.
Offenses can also put more than one man in motion. For instance, a quarterback may call a play or make a signal that moves all three wide receivers from one side of the field to the next. But, in doing so, two of the players must come to a stop before the ball is snapped.
If more than one player is moving when the ball is snapped, a penalty will be called. An exception to the rule is in indoor football leagues such as the Arena Football League.
In the AFL, players can move in motion toward the line of scrimmage as long as the football is snapped before the man in motion crosses the line.
This is a huge advantage for the man in motion because he is now getting an opportunity to be a full speed when the ball is snapped. Defensively, as you can imagine, defensive backs have a much more difficult time defending a receiver is has a full head of steam by the time the ball is snapped. But, with all that in mind, the main reason an offensive team sends a man in motion usually is to see what defensive coverage a defense is in. If a receiver goes from one side to the next and a defensive player follows him the offense is able to pick up on the defensive coverage.
"If the guy goes in motion and the defender travels with him, it usually means that they are in man coverage," said Barlow. "Some teams do it to try and get a read on the defense."
