Game Plan in Motion: The Modern NFL Offense Unleashed
- Duke Doyle
- Mar 26
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 26
Over the last decade, NFL offenses have taken on a whole new identity especially on the offensive side of the ball. The days of lining up in I-formation and pounding the rock are long gone. Today’s offenses are built around spacing, tempo, and pre-snap manipulation. You see it in everything: condensed formations that explode into motion-heavy packages, quarterbacks making lightning-fast reads off RPOs, and post-snap leverage.
As someone who breaks down film and lives for game tape, it’s clear we’re watching an evolution that’s equal parts football IQ innovation, and matchup chess. Coaches are building systems around their players' skill sets instead of forcing players into rigid schemes. Pre-snap indicators, split alignments, and formation variations aren’t just window dressing. They’re tools to attack leverage, create conflict, and simplify reads for the quarterback.
The Rise of the Spread Offense
The spread offense isn’t isolated just to college play anymore. It’s a staple in the NFL now. In 2023, teams used shotgun formations on 72% of offensive plays, the highest on record, indicating a significant shift toward spread offenses (CBS Sports). That trend has opened more flexibility in how teams attack defensive structures.
You’ll consistently see 11 or even 10 personnel groupings to force defenses into nickel and dime looks, stretching them out horizontally and creating vertical opportunities. Spread concepts emphasize efficiency through quick game, bubble screens, option routes, and inside zone runs. It’s about creating favorable matchups and letting athletes do the rest.
Pre-snap motion adds even more depth. Quarterbacks use it to reveal coverage, shift leverage, and create conflict. In tight spaces like the red zone, it becomes essential. Motion at the snap has evolved from a niche tactic to a fundamental piece of offensive design. Over the last several seasons, we’ve seen teams build entire formations and play concepts around motion. Whether it's jet motion, orbit motion, or even subtle shifts by tight ends and running backs, these movements give quarterbacks clues about coverage, force communication errors on defense, and create leverage before the ball is even snapped.
The RPO Revolution
The RPO is one of the biggest schematic additions recently. At its core, it puts a conflict defender in a bind, a linebacker or overhang safety read by the quarterback. If the defender bites on the run, the quarterback pulls and throws. If he drops into coverage, the handoff is clean.
In 2023, NFL teams increased their use of RPOs, with the league-wide rush average on RPO plays at 4.2 yards per carry, reflecting evolving defensive adaptations (The 33rd Team). While not quite as explosive as earlier years, RPOs remain a core tactic to keep defenses off balance.
Quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, and Tua Tagovailoa thrive in these systems. It’s not just about athleticism, it’s about processing quickly and trusting timing. The best RPO teams train their quarterbacks to identify post-snap leverage, understand defender tendencies, and know exactly where their first outlet is based on alignment.
In the image above, we have a post-snap RPO. This means the QB is going to read and react based on the defense. The first option, the QB can look at WR X and F and see how the CB and FS is lined-up. If the CB is pressed and the FS is coming down that will not be a good pass option based on the pre-snap read. However, a good passing option would be hitting WR F on the bubble screen if the free safety moves up after the ball is snapped.
The QB also has another read to the right which is WR Y. For this read, the QB will read the Mike (M). If the Mike moves towards WR Y, the QB will just hand the ball off to the RB. If the Mike stays in place or moves towards the line of scrimmage, the QB has a quick pass to WR Y. The RPO is really about read and react. When you make the right reads, I like to say the defense is always going to be wrong.
When you pair RPOs with motion, you now introduce multiple layers of deception. The defense has to communicate across shifts, stay sound against the run, and be disciplined in coverage all within a 2.5-second window. The Eagles’ offense in 2023 struggled after dropping to 32nd in motion usage, which made their play calls easier to read (ESPN). More teams in 2024 leaned into motion-plus-RPO packages, and we saw a jump in early-down success across the board.
Versatility Is the Name of the Game
Today’s best offenses aren’t just deep in talent, they’re versatile in deployment. It’s not just about where guys line up. It’s about what they can do from any spot on the field. Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, Travis Kelce, and Bijan Robinson are all examples of players who challenge defensive rules because they don’t fit into traditional boxes.
McCaffrey might motion from the backfield to the slot and run a choice route. Kelce might flex out wide and win on a deep over or pivot route. That level of freedom demands defenses to either sub into lighter personnel or risk linebackers getting exposed in coverage. It’s not just creativity it’s calculated stress.
Fullbacks and tight ends aren’t just blockers anymore. They’re hybrid chess pieces. Whether it’s a wham block, delayed leak route, or lining up at H-back then motioning to outside receiver, those roles add depth to modern playbooks.
The image above shows the way the Rams will utilize motion. We have Atwell coming in motion, which exposes the 49ers in a cover 1. The nickel corner is going to pick up Atwell passing his man off to the outside corner. Since Atwell has momentum from the pre-snap motion, he easily beats his man forcing the safety who was the spy for the middle of the field to pick him up. The image below shows Rams playmaker, Puka Nacua wide open on the drag route. Now, you might be wondering well what if the 49ers were playing zone coverage? Later in this game, the Rams ran a similar play with Nacua running the drag route, the only difference is 49ers were in a zone. Well, that does not help when you have a veteran QB and Nacua, being a smart receiver ends up cutting his drag route and finding the soft spot of the zone just sitting in the middle of the field.
Motion emphasizes that flexibility. A shift from the backfield to the slot or even a late orbit motion can force defenses to rotate, switch responsibilities, and show their hand. Throughout the 2022–2023 seasons, the Rams used pre-snap motion at the third-highest rate in the NFL (55.6%), correlating with increased productivity on those snaps (The Rams).
Where It's Headed
Offenses will continue evolving as defenses throw more simulated pressures and hybrid coverages into the mix. Expect more analytics-informed game plans, heavy use of motion, tempo changes, and even more creative personnel packages.
During the past 3 NFL seasons, pre-snap motion usage has dramatically increased. Teams like the 49ers, Dolphins, and Chiefs lead the way highlighting a strong correlation between motion usage and offensive success (The 33rd Team).
The best coordinators aren’t just play designers. They’re game managers. They know when to break tendency, when to adjust tempo, and how to isolate matchups with motion and alignment. Expect even more condensed formations, stack releases, and hybrid route combinations built around creating post-snap confusion.
We’re in the middle of an offensive renaissance. It’s fast. It’s smart. And incredibly hard to stop. I’m excited to keep breaking it all down.
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