Playbooks
Empty Trey Flex is a Shotgun set that removes the running back from the backfield and spreads five eligible targets across the field in a 3x2 look. The trips side (the Trey) is built around a flexed tight end, detached a few yards off the line, paired with wide receivers, while the backside carries a two-man combination. Other Shotgun sets keep a back in the box for protection and a run threat. This set commits fully to the pass, forcing the defense to declare its coverage shell before the snap and giving the quarterback a clean presnap read on every alignment.
The flexed tight end is the key matchup piece. Detached from the core, he pulls a linebacker or safety out of the box, so defenses must either widen a slower defender into space or bring in a nickel or dime package that leaves them light against the QB Draw. Concepts like Y Corner, Smash Y Sit, and Stick Ohio are designed to isolate that tight end on a linebacker, while the backside two-man side becomes a clean isolation zone for your best receiver when the defense rotates coverage toward trips.
The play list covers almost every coverage answer. Four Verticals and Wdt Post stress deep safeties. Levels Switch, Dbl Slot Cross, and Smash Z Under flood intermediate zones. Stick N Nod and Curl Combo attack underneath leverage. WR Screen and QB Draw punish defenses that overcommit to pass rush or drop too deep. The result is a compact, quick-game-friendly set that lets you run a full spread passing attack from one alignment.
Before the snap, motion a trips receiver across the formation: if a defender follows, you have man coverage and should work Dbl Slot Cross, Stick N Nod, or Y Corner; if defenders shift zones, lean on Levels Switch or Smash Z Under
Against Cover 0 or obvious blitz looks, use hot routes to convert the backside receiver to a slant or the flexed tight end to a quick in so you have a sub two second answer, or audible to WR Screen to punish the pressure
On 3rd and short to medium, Stick Ohio and Stick N Nod are go-to calls, reading the stick route off the flat defender and taking the nod only when the underneath defender jumps the stick
When the defense shows single high and brings in dime personnel to match the empty look, check to QB Draw or Four Verticals, depending on whether the box is light or the safety is cheating toward trips
Mix in Curl Combo and Smash Y Sit on early downs to keep the chains moving, then take a shot with Wdt Post once the safeties start driving down on your intermediate throws