Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mesh out of Empty Base Shotgun spreads five receivers wide with no back in the backfield, forcing the defense to declare coverage with no run threat to account for. The two inside receivers cross underneath at a shallow depth to create the traditional mesh point, the outside receiver on the strong side runs an out route while the far outside receiver on the weak side breaks off a corner route up the boundary, and the remaining inside slot receiver runs a deep dig across the middle of the field as the primary read against zone drops. This is a classic man beater built to create natural rubs and picks at the mesh point, with the deep dig serving as the window read versus zone coverage. Primary progression starts with the shallow crossers working man leverage underneath, then climbs to the deep dig if linebackers clear out or if the defense shows zone.
Defensive Reads
Watch for man coverage with no deep safety help over the middle, this shell struggles to defend the mesh point and gets picked constantly by user defenders trying to jump routes. Zone coverage with a robber or lurk defender sitting in the shallow crossing lanes is the counter, this eliminates the easy mesh completion and forces the quarterback to hold the ball. Key the linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard to cover the crossers, the dig route behind them will be wide open for a chunk gain. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge exploit the lack of a running back protector in Empty Base, get pressure home before the quarterback can work through the mesh progression. Corner positioning on the outside routes matters, aggressive press corners jumping the out or corner route can bait the quarterback into an early throw that gets picked.
Usage Tips
Use this play on third and medium to third and long when you need a reliable man beater against press or man coverage looks.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see two high safeties with no deep middle help, the dig route becomes your money throw over the crossers.
Against man coverage, trust the mesh point to create natural picks and separation, hit the first crosser who breaks open rather than holding the ball.
Pair this call with Y Cross or Drag Double Spot earlier in a series to condition the defense to jump underneath crossers, then hit the dig for a big gain once they bite.
If the defense shows blitz pre-snap, get the ball out fast on the shallow mesh routes since there is no running back to check down to out of Empty Base.
