Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
QB Zone out of Shotgun Empty Chips is a designed quarterback run play, not a pass concept, so there are no route combos to read on the diagram. The five receivers are split out wide and to the slot with no blocking assignment shown, meaning they are decoys running vertical or clear-out routes to pull defenders away from the box. The offensive line executes a zone blocking scheme with double teams and combo blocks to create a run lane for the QB, who reads the flow of the defensive front and picks a gap based on how the line seals blockers.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a light box pre-snap since Empty Chips removes a traditional running back, if the defense doesn't rotate a safety down or bring a linebacker closer to the line, this play will hit hard. Spy or scrape exchange linebackers are the biggest counter, if the Mike linebacker stays home instead of flowing with the zone action, the cutback lane disappears. Edge defenders who maintain contain instead of crashing upfield take away the QB's ability to bounce the run outside. User-controlled defensive linemen who diagnose the zone blocking scheme and get skinny through gaps can blow up the play before the QB reads the hole. Man coverage on the perimeter receivers with no help underneath can be exploited if the defense sends extra rushers, since the QB can check down or scramble for extra yardage once the initial run lane is sealed.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or short yardage when the defense shows a light box, since Empty Chips forces the defense to declare coverage with only 5 or 6 defenders in the run fit.
Check the numbers pre-snap: if the defense keeps a spy or has a linebacker sitting in the middle of the field with no extra run support, this play has a clean lane.
Use the empty backfield look to bait the defense into thinking pass, then attack aggressive edge rushers who crash upfield instead of respecting the QB run.
Pair this with a play-action shot play like Deep Post Out or Dagger from the same set so the defense has to respect both the zone run and the vertical passing game from an identical formation.
Avoid calling this against heavy blitz packages that send extra defenders off the edge, since the QB has no lead blocker and can get hit in the backfield before finding a crease.
