The Orbit Sweep/ Spinner Series Deep Dive
Orbit Sweep Spinner Series: How the Packers, Buckeyes, Cardinals & Bobcats Use Motion to Win
The Orbit Sweep series, or some have called, the Spinner Series, has become a staple of what we see on a weekly basis in both the NFL and College games. It is a play that takes its roots from a jet sweep, but is slower developing and requires different blocking schemes on the perimeter. The Orbit Sweep by itself is not the most dominant play, but all of the plays that come off of it are what make the series so dangerous. Here are five different variations of ways teams have used the series to attack defenses.
2024 Packers Orbit Sweep vs Eagles (Week 1)
The Green Bay Packers may have used this concept more than anyone else in the NFL this past season. It started week one against the Philadelphia Eagles and continued through their stretch when they had to play Malik Willis at Quarterback while Jordan Love recovered from injury. They then used it the rest of the year as they had a lot of success with it early. This play starts off with Jayden Reed getting a sweep with a lead block on the perimeter by Emanuel Wilson. Reed broke a few tackles to score from 30+ yards out.
2024 Ohio State Orbit Sweep Inside Counter Flip
Ohio State ran a counter off of the Orbit Sweep play using an inside toss to get the ball to the receiver running the counter. The play sprung for a big gain before a fumble turned the ball over to Notre Dame. The empty look makes it look as if the run game is out of the picture, but the inside flip on the exchange gave it a clever edge that allowed it to spring.
Montana State Orbit Sweep Counter Reverse
Montana State might not have been the first team to run this play, Steve Sarkisian and Texas might get that honor, but Montana State pulled it of in stunning fashion. The timing and ball handling on this play is critical and it would take a lot of practice to pull off. The play starts with faking a handoff to the running back before faking a orbit sweep, and then finally flipping the ball to a receiver on a reverse action. It springs for a huge gain and had the South Dakota State defense on it's heels.
2024 Packers Orbit Sweep Leak Play Action Leak
The Packers used the orbit sweep and their counter game off of it to create explosive shot plays down field. This is an example of one of those shot plays. After faking both the counter and the orbit sweep they cleared out the left side of the field with two vertical routes leaving Tucker Kraft wide open on a crossing route. While may not be exactly the same leak concept we are used to it has its roots in that same idea.
2024 Arizona Cardinals Orbit Sweep Sark Screen
Steve Sarkisian's influences are seen in offenses of all levels. NFL teams are consistently stealing from his Texas Longhorns playbook. This play is an example of one that was stolen many times over again. Throughout 2023 and 2024 Sark found multiple ways to run this screen concept and they ran it almost every game. The Cardinals dialed up against the Jets for a huge gain allowing them to put points on the board.