Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Quick Slants out of Shotgun Empty Bunch Tight sends the three bunch receivers on quick-hitting slant and drag routes underneath while the backside receiver and the isolated X on the far side both run outs to clear the flat and stretch the field horizontally. The bunch action creates natural rub picks against man coverage as the slants cross the shallow drag, and the outside outs give the QB a built-in zone beater against soft corners sitting on the underneath routes. This is a five-man empty protection with no back to check down, so the primary read progression starts with the inside slant off the bunch, works to the shallow drag crossing underneath, and finishes with the backside out route if the middle is clogged.
Defensive Reads
Show press man or a single high safety pre-snap to bait the offense into the bunch slants, then rotate a robber underneath to jump the crossing routes. Watch for a user controlled linebacker sitting in the shallow zone since he can undercut the drag route that crosses the middle of the field. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender takes away both out routes and forces the quarterback to force the ball into the bunch traffic. Disguise a Cover 1 blitz off the edge since the empty protection has no back to pick it up, creating a free rusher who forces a rushed throw. Zone defenses that keep a linebacker spying the middle of the field can squeeze the passing lanes for both slants and bait an interception.
Usage Tips
Get this play out fast since empty protection means no help against a delayed blitz, so throw within your first two reads.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 1 man, both of which get exposed by the natural rub the bunch slants create.
Use the backside out route as a built in hot beater against Cover 2 shells where the corner sits deep and the underneath zone is thin.
Pair this with Mesh Cross or Mesh Spot from the same set to keep defenses guessing between crossing concepts and quick slant timing on early downs.
Best called on first and second down or in third and short situations where the quick timing throw beats the blitz before it arrives.
