Playbooks
Franchise Playsheet
The Wide Empty playbook is a franchise situational playsheet built entirely from one look: all 24 plays come from Shotgun, and all of them sit in a single set. It is a specialty sheet, not a full offensive system. Its job is to put five eligible receivers into the pattern from an empty alignment, spread the defense horizontally, and make the coverage declare itself before the snap. The concept list shows the intent. Cover 2 Beater and Cover 4 Beater tags, Double Posts, Post, Deep Cross, Crosser, Hitch and curl-based calls like All Curl give you answers to both two-high shells and quarters. Draw, QB Draw and Designed QB Run concepts punish defenses that drop too many defenders against the empty look.
Because the formation share is 100 percent Shotgun in one set, this playbook trades variety for clarity. Every play shares the same pre-snap picture, so the defense cannot key a run or pass tendency from alignment alone. The quarterback also gets a consistent read structure snap after snap. The game plan it supports is pass-first and tempo-friendly. Spread the field, read the safeties, throw hitches and curls against soft zone, attack the deep middle with posts and crossers against split safeties, and use the QB run game when the box empties out.
At 24 plays, it sits near the smaller end of the 42 offensive franchise playsheets. That compactness is the selling point: you choose the Wide Empty playbook when you want a focused empty package for passing downs and two-minute situations. It is not meant to carry a full game plan. Its value is a clean, fast-reading menu of coverage beaters that you can call without scrolling through formations.
The Wide Empty playbook wants a quarterback with quick release, strong short and deep accuracy and enough speed to make QB Draw and Designed QB Run a real threat, plus a receiving corps deep enough that the fifth option can still win on Hitch and crossing routes. An offensive line with high pass block ratings is essential, because empty offers no extra blockers against pressure. It fits spread-minded, pre-snap readers who like to diagnose coverage and get the ball out fast, not players who want to lean on the run game or play action.
Coaches who run it: Andy Reid, Jim Harbaugh, Kevin O'Connell, Kellen Moore
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Build your audible package inside the lone Shotgun set around one Cover 2 Beater, one Cover 4 Beater, All Curl and a QB Draw, so you can match any shell without leaving the empty look.
On 3rd and 3 to 6, call Hitch or All Curl, read the flat defender, and take the first open curl. If the defense plays off coverage, the ball should be out before any pressure arrives.
On 3rd and long or in the two-minute drill, go to Double Posts or Deep Cross against split safeties, and hot route an inside receiver to a quick slant or drag as a blitz outlet.
When the defense shows dime with a light box on 2nd and medium, check to QB Draw or a Designed QB Run. Before the snap, look for a QB spy or a user sitting in the middle hole.
Since this is a situational playsheet, assign it to passing downs and hurry-up situations in franchise. Keep your base playbook for early downs and short yardage, where the empty set's lack of protection is a liability.
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