Defending the RB Leak
Some options for responding to a late Empty Set
Defending six eligible Receivers is a uniquely Canadian issue.
Only in three-down ball does the Offence have the option of throwing to six different targets on any given play. In many formations, the final piece to this puzzle is a leaking Running Back who begins in the backfield but then heads out on a passing route. Here are a few options for dealing with this action by the Offence.
Lining up in Empty
A close cousin to this issue is the idea of the Offence simply lining up right away with six Receivers. This is a slightly different animal, however, since the Defence has the option here of “checking” to a new call based on the personnel or formation that they are seeing from the Offence. In other words, the Defence has time to adjust.
Depending on how often you see these Empty looks (often a 33 Formation or a 42 Formation), you might have a specific call you want to get to every time you see Empty. If it’s becoming extremely common, however, you might need to adjust a number of your calls to fit against this look. Either way, you have time to make a decision versus Empty.
RB Leak to Empty
A late leak to Empty, however, leaves no time to adjust your play call. For this reason you will likely want to have a built-in plan for handling this type of look from your opponent.
Empty Leak in Man Coverage
If you are in Man-to-Man Coverage on the play, someone will definitely need to account for the leaking Running Back. You answer here may vary based on the specific type of Man you are in, as well as the initial formation that the Offence had lined up in.
Cover 1 Man
If you are sending four rushers and playing Cover 1, you will likely be able to pick up the RB with the Linebacker to the side of the Leak.
A few things are happening in the above diagram. With the Will Linebacker picking up the RB in coverage, you are now becoming light in the Box (five defenders for six run gaps). The only remaining run threat is now the Quarterback — which may or may not be an issue for you based on who you are playing.
Man-to-Man with Heavy Pressure
If you are sending a lot of pressure at the Quarterback on the play, you also have the option of using a “Peel” technique on the Running Back. This means that all of your Blitzing players are also responsible for the Running Back if they leak into a route.
If the RB leaks wide, the widest Edge Blitzer will PEEL and cover the RB. If the RB tries to leak through the A Gap or B Gap (setting up a Screen Pass), an interior Blitzer would need to grab the RB.
Pressure Concept versus RB Leak
This is a good time to mention that another option for the RB Leak is simply sending so much pressure that the Running Back will need to stay in and Pass Protect. When the Offence creates a late Empty Formation, they only have five Offensive Linemen left in protection. Sometimes — though not always — the Running Back will have to first check for a Blitz before leaking into a route. The Blitz will prevent the Leak. Other times, however, the Running Back will have a “free release” on the play. This is where your RB Leak plan kicks in.
RB Leak versus Zone Coverage
Your answers here may vary widely based on the types of Zone Coverages you use and the amount of pressure you’re sending on the play. The concept remains the same, however, which is that the Offence is adding an extra Receiver to one side of the formation, and your Zone Coverage players should adjust their drops accordingly.
Further Considerations
There are a numbers of additional questions that must be considered while developing your plan against the RB Leak. Here are just a couple:
First is personnel. Does your opponent have a RB who is dangerous in the passing game? If this is a big part of their game plan, your preparation that week might be largely centred around your RB Leak plan.
What is your plan versus ALL formations? A 23 Formation where the RB Leaks Field? A 41 Formation where the RB Leaks Boundary? These are important things to consider.
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Take care,
Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
IG: @jonsvecx
Twitter: @jonsvecx