Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Slants deploys five eligible receivers from an empty backfield with three receivers to one side and two to the other, giving the quarterback a full-field read at the snap since there is no running back for protection help. The outside receivers on both sides run deep comeback style routes toward the sideline while the inside slot receiver on the strong side breaks on a quick slant and the two remaining inside receivers work a slant and a short pivot in the middle of the field. This is a man beater built to attack leverage with the middle slant winning against inside shade and the deep comebacks punishing cornerbacks playing off coverage, so the primary read progression starts with the quick inside slant, works to the pivot route underneath, and finishes on the backside comeback if the quarterback has time.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a single high safety rotating late since that usually signals man coverage underneath and opens up the inside slants against man leverage Key the slot defenders feet at the snap, if they open toward the flat instead of sitting inside the slant will separate immediately for an easy completion Identify Cover 3 by tracking the cornerbacks bailing deep at the snap, this leaves the underneath slant and pivot routes in soft spots between the flat and hook zones Beware of a Mike or Sam linebacker blitzing off the slot since empty formations remove backfield chip protection, get the ball out on the quick slant before the free rusher arrives If the defense shows Cover 2 with hard flat defenders, expect the comeback routes to get squeezed, checking down to the shallow slant or pivot becomes the safer answer
Usage Tips
Take a quick pre-snap glance at the slot cornerbacks alignment since tight inside shade tells you the slant will be sitting in a soft spot immediately at the snap
Use the middle slant as your hot route answer against any Mike linebacker blitz because it clears the shallow zone before pressure arrives
If the defense shows two high safeties, lean on the comeback routes to the boundary since off man or soft zone corners will not be able to close the cushion in time
Motion is not available with an empty backfield so rely on your presnap alignment reads and audible to Bubble Screen if you see overload pressure to the trips side
Pair this play with Stick Nod or Double Slant Stick later in a series so linebackers start cheating toward the quick slant, then hit them with Wheel Cross or Slot Fade Cross for an explosive shot play
Other Plays in Empty Base Trio
- All Curl
All HitchHitch, Pass Play- Bubble Screen
Curl ComboCurl, Pass Play
Deep AttackPass Play, Four Verts, Go +5
Divide Double InIn, Pass Play
Double Slant StickSlant, Stick, Stick Concept +1
Drag Slot FadeFade, Drag, Pass Play
Drive Switch SeamsDrive, Pass Play, Cover 4 Beater +1
Hitches Slot InHitch, Pass Play
Hoss JukePass Play, Four Verts, Go +4
QB DrawDraw, Qb Draw, Designed Qb Run +1- Shock Levels
Shock Slot OptionOption Route, Motion, Pass Play
Slot Fade CrossFade, Pass Play, Crosser
Slot ShakePass Play, Quick Pass, Slant +7
Stick NodStick, Stick Concept, Pass Play
Verticals H OptionOption Route, Four Verts, Pass Play +2- Wheel Cross
X Mid ScreenScreen Pass, Pass Play