Credit: Smart Football’s “Does anyone still use Lombardi’s Packer’s Sweep”

Kelly’s Eagles also pull multiple lineman, but primarily use the Center and play side Guard instead of both guards. Kelly’s read sweep leaves an unblocked defender as a read man and is often accompanied by arc motion going away from the play (like Lombardi’s Sweep). The play side Tackle blocks down, and the pullers work through to the second level:

The unblocked read man is the 1-technique Defensive Tackle. He’s completely unblocked, but hesitates just enough to make himself a non-factor in the play. This is the beauty of the read element; it can block interior defensive lineman even with no QB run threat. The center and play side guard pull wide, attempting to stretch the defensive front 7 horizontally, while the play side Tackle blocks down. The frontside defenders over pursue the play, (#57 and #30) allowing the Running Back (#25 LeSean McCoy) to cut up field for a solid gain. Meanwhile, the backside guard and tackle execute an X-block (or cross block) which is helped by the arc motion from the Wide Receiver:

Kelly’s Read Sweep is versatile and changes the read man depending on the front. Below,  Dallas plays a 0-technique along with a 3 technique weak side and a 4i play side. The read man is the weak side 3-technique. The Eagles still pull the Center and play side Guard; the play goes for a huge gain because the play side Tackle crashes down hard and washes both the play side 3-technique and the 0-tech:

The read man is signified by the circled defender. Once again, leaving him unblocked allows the weak side Guard to climb to the second level and block a linebacker. The beauty of this scheme is that it is executed without any real run threat from the Quarterback:

Finally, the Read Sweep is executed below twice with the end man on the line of scrimmage “EMLOS” being the read man. Here, the Eagles don’t pull the Center and Guard when faced with a 0-technique. Instead, the play side Tackle pulls along with the play side Guard:

Again, the Eagles execute the Read Sweep with the EMLOS as the unblocked defender, this time with arc motion. They face a more traditional front from the Rams with man to man coverage (as opposed to against Washington or Dallas above) The Eagles are able to have the pulling Guard kick out the Defensive End and the pulling Center works through and up to the second level.

While the play can be quite effective without a true run threat at the Quarterback position, a dual threat QB can elevate the scheme to the next level and stretch a defense extremely thin horizontally. Below, the Eagles run the read sweep Week 1 of the 2013 season with the Center and play side Tackle pulling:

Overall, the Read Sweep is a variation on Buck Sweep that adjusts on the fly against different fronts. It allows lineman to get to second level, even without a true running threat from the QB. It also sets up other running plays by keeping unblocked defensive lineman slightly hesitant instead of attacking. The arc motion can also be incorporated to help the offensive line and hold either linebackers or LOS.

2015 SEASON UPDATE***

The Eagles had success in Week 1 with a variation of Buck/Read Sweep, or “Jab” sweep.  Jab sweep is similar in blocking scheme, but gives a mixed flow read to the Linebackers because the Running Back is on the same side as the direction of the play. This time, the QB doesn’t have a read, while the Running back takes a drop step to time up with the pulling lineman. Here, the pulling lineman are the play side Tackle and the Center:

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The Cardinals had blitzed all game, and were ultra-aggressive on the final play of the game. Arizona played Cover 0, straight man to man with no help, and blitzed 7 defenders:

The Cardinals get immediate pressure with their 7-man blitz, but Eagles QB Nick Foles back pedals quickly enough to let the routes develop:

Chip Kelly designed the perfect play against a Cover 0 defense in this situation: the Deep Crosses cause a lot of traffic for the Cardinals DB’s. Meanwhile, Zach Ertz turns up the field from the flat toward the End Zone:

The Deep Crosses work to perfection: so much traffic is created that Eagles and Cardinals players run into each other in the End Zone, one Cardinals defender is knocked down, and the other cannot stay with his man. Jordan Matthews is able to break free and seems to be wide open for an Eagles TD to win the game. Here is where the Eagles run into a problem, and the awareness of Arizona DB Rashad Johnson is critical. Philly TE Zach Ertz carrying up the field toward the end zone actually hurts the Eagles, because a man to man also brings an Arizona defender. If Zach Ertz stayed in the flat, Jordan Matthews may have been wide open for a TD.

Even so, Rashad Johnson has the awareness to not just stay on his man, but realize the ball is in the air, to locate the ball, to peel off his man, swivel his hips and hit the Eagles WR (Jordan Matthews) before he is able to make the catch with 2 feet in bounds. Below is the video in slow motion, and then standard speed, showing how the Deep Crosses work and how Rashad Johnson peels off and makes the play:

The Eagles were incredibly close to pulling a last play miracle. Chip Kelly called a near perfect play in anticipation of Arizona’s all out blitz and Cover 0. However, even though the Eagles got the cross and route traffic they wanted, Zach Ertz continuing up the field along with Rashad Johnson’s awareness sealed the win for Arizona. Ertz probably should have continued up the field against zone coverage, but in a pure man to man (Cover 0) scenario, he may have been better off staying in the flat and letting the play develop down the field. (Cowboys must be aware of the Cover 0 blitz after last week’s troubles)

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