Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
QB Zone out of Shotgun Empty Sketch Stack is a designed QB run with an 11 personnel look, showing five receivers spread wide with no running back in the backfield to hold defenders honest. The offensive line executes a zone blocking scheme, sliding as a unit to seal running lanes while the QB reads the flow of the front seven and picks his gap. This is a designed quarterback run, not a play-action or RPO look based on this diagram, so the primary read progression is the QB identifying the first unblocked defender off the zone flow and cutting to the open crease.
Defensive Reads
Watch for base 4-3 or 3-4 fronts that stay in run-friendly personnel despite the empty backfield, since that signals the defense is prepared for QB Zone. Key the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits back in coverage rather than filling downhill the QB will have a clean lane up the middle. Identify man coverage across the board pre-snap, since man defenders turning their backs in coverage cannot help in run support, making this a strong man beater. Look for a spy or designated QB defender lined up over the center or shaded to the play side, as that defender is coached to mirror the quarterback and can shut down the design. Post-snap, track the backside defensive end and any unblocked slot defender crashing down, since a disciplined edge player who stays home takes away the cutback lane.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap since Empty Sketch Stack removes the RB threat, so defenses with light boxes (5 or fewer defenders) are prime targets for this call.
Look for defenses that widen out in nickel or dime personnel to match the five wide receivers, since that often leaves fewer bodies inside to defend the zone run.
Use manual QB contain awareness against user-controlled defensive ends who spy the quarterback, and be ready to cut back against the grain if the backside is clean.
Pair this play with Verticals TE Option or Flood X-Swirl from the same set to keep defenses honest on early downs, then dial up QB Zone once they start cheating a linebacker or safety into the box.
Best used on 2nd and short or 3rd and short situations where the defense expects a pass from an empty backfield look, catching them in pass-heavy sub packages with light run fits.
