Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Steelers Shake lines up in Empty Steeler out of Shotgun with five receivers spread across the formation and no back in the backfield. Both outside receivers run vertical stems that break into deep out routes toward the sideline while the inside slot receivers on each side run a slant flat combo, with the slant working underneath toward the middle and the flat receiver stemming vertically before releasing outside. The single receiver to the boundary runs a shallow out that breaks toward the sideline off the line, giving the quarterback a five man route distribution built as a man beater with the slant flat combo as the primary read against man coverage and the deep outs available as the zone beater progression against soft corners.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing man or zone by checking corner depth and safety rotation, since press man on the outside receivers signals the slant flat combo will win quickly. Watch for a underneath zone defender sitting on the slant route, which tells you to work the flat receiver or reset to the far side combo instead. Key the middle linebacker depth and any late rotation to a Tampa 2 or Cover 3 shell, since a deep middle defender can jump the inside slants if the quarterback stares them down too long. Look for cornerback flat drops on Cover 3 or Cover 4 looks, which threaten the flat and out routes and force the quarterback to hold the ball longer, making the deep out on the opposite side the better answer. Watch for user blitzes off the edge since the empty backfield offers no protection help, meaning quick decisive throws to the slant flat side are essential against pressure.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second and medium to third and short situations where you need a quick access throw underneath but still want a shot at the outside numbers if the corners sit soft. Pre-snap, check for man coverage indicators like corners lined up tight on the outside receivers and a single high safety, since the slant flat combo on either side creates natural rub separation against man defenders. If you see two deep safeties or a soft zone shell, work the deep out breaking routes on the outside receivers since those routes settle into zone windows just past the sticks. Hot route the backside slant receiver into a quicker breaking route if the defense is bringing pressure to speed up your first read. Pair this call with Steelers Cross or Y-Stick in the same set so you can run complementary route concepts from the same personnel and formation look, keeping the defense guessing between quick underneath throws and intermediate crossers.
