TE Leak

What is the most consistently WIDE OPEN pass play against the most sophisticated defenses in football? Based on what I’ve seen, the answer is TE Leak. Somehow, even the most dominant defenses tend to loose track of the TE off a hard Wide Zone fake. Here, the Bills shift the TE to Strong I Rt. They run Wide Zone Lead with the Fullback which is designed to create extra gaps to the playside. The Linebackers and Strong Safety flow to Wide Zone, while the TE Leaks across the formation on a Shallow.

• Shift to I Rt. with Y-Off

• Play Action Wide Zone Lead

• Center takes Wide Zone Step and Spins Out to Protect the Backside C-Gap

• X Wide Receiver buries the CB and runs to the FS

• TE Leaks Shallow

What I like most about this design is the Center Lag. What typically gets these types of plays in trouble is pressure. You do not want to True Boot a Leak Concept because it will attract secondary attention. Leaving the Backside C-Gap unprotected is a recipe for getting your Quarterback destroyed. The Center Lag is such an effective protection strategy because it is an extremely difficult read for the Linebackers and Safeties. I referenced this in both The Ultimate Guide to Counter and The Ultimate Guide to Screen - mobility at the Center Position can unlock some creative possibilities for your offense!

Isolating the TE in Four Verts

No one executed Four Verts better than Peyton Manning and few TE’s had a better feel for the Bender Route than Dallas Clark. Obviously, these two players formed a great connection, but OC Tom Moore and QB Coach Jim Caldwell did some things with play design that made this play incredibly difficult to defend, especially if the defense was going to play Tampa 2.

• Deuce Formation into the Boundary (TE on the Ball + WR Off the Ball)

  • Play Action Power (TE Releases & Guard Pulls for Boundary Pass Pro)

• Tampa 2 Coverage - Middle of the Field Open

  • Four Verts with WR’s taking inside Releases and Fading to the Sidelines

  • Slot works outside the Nickel and Bends to the Hash

  • TE Stacks on top of Will LB and Bends Inside the Boundary Numbers

Play Action (especially with a Pulling Guard) is able to hold the Will and Mike LB’s just long enough for the TE to stack on top and bend into the Window behind the Will LB and in front of the FS. It also helps when the Mike LB in Tampa 2 opens up to the Field - leaving more room in the Boundary. When the ball is released the TE looks covered, but this play is perfectly designed to open late. Throw it to grass and trust your TE to Bend into the opening.

Tampa 2 is coming back in a big way with Iowa State style 3 Safety Alignments. This relatively simple play design (even from the Gun) could have the same influence on LB’s and Safeties in a modern Spread Offense.

Yankee Concept with Double Post

One of my favorite concepts is “Yankee” the Big Post with a Deep Crosser. I really like the way Rutgers ran it off Play Action with Split Zone Action and the potential for 7-Man Protection. They run Double Post to carry both the Field CB and the Safeties. The Deep Crosser from the Boundary is able to out run the Boundary CB to the opposite numbers.

• Slide Protection to the Field

  • H-Back Split Zone Action Pass Pro

  • RB Check Release to Flat

• Outside Stem Post from #1 to the Field

• Inside Stem Post from Slot (#2)

• Boundary Deep Crosser (Stair-Step the Route vs. Man)

This is a great way to isolate a talented Boundary with a horizontal stretch of the defense. The Wide Zone Play Action gives the Route enough time to clear to the opposite hash. QB reads Post to Crosser to Check Down.

Play Action Switch Mills

Switch Concepts are a staple of Run & Shoot offenses, but you can see them everywhere now. If defenses commit to stacking the box and playing Cover 1 expect to see these Switch Concepts. The genius of the Run & Shoot is the freedom receivers have to adjust their routes based on the coverage. Normally the Slot would run a Wheel Route, but because he is able to win Inside Leverage he converts to a Post.

• Switch to “Mills Concept”

  • Post from (new) #1

  • Dig from (new) #2

• Play Action - QB Eyes Move Free Safety to the Boundary

• 7-Man Protection (Delayed Release)

Veteran Receivers thrive with sight adjustments to their routes. Play Action 7-Man Protection gives time for the Switch to happen and still create vertical separation on the Post. If you’re getting a lot of Cover 1, try to isolate your speedy slot with a Big Post!