Playbooks
Overview
The Empty Trey Stack is a five-wide look out of the Shotgun formation that uses 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE) but empties the backfield entirely. The running back splits out as a receiver, and three eligibles align in a stacked trey to one side with a two-receiver set on the backside. Standard Shotgun Trey or Trips sets keep a back next to the QB for protection and run threat. This set gives that up to put all five eligibles into the route, which forces the defense to declare its coverage before the snap and removes any help from a chipping back.
The personnel grouping creates matchup problems. Because the defense sees 11 personnel, most players stay in base or nickel, which can leave a linebacker lined up over a split-out running back or the tight end in the stack. The stacked trey creates natural rubs and release conflicts against press man. Defenders have to decide who takes the point man and who takes the off receiver, and bunch-style switches like Curl Switch and Smash Seam exploit that hesitation. The backside two-receiver side often draws isolated coverage. That makes Fade Out and Bench Corner reliable shots to your best outside receiver.
Conceptually, the set is built around quick game and triangle reads. Y Stick, Double Stick, and Stick N Nod give you fast answers against zone. Levels and Curl Flat Salem put horizontal stress on flat and hook defenders. Jailbreak Screen, Slot Middle Screen, and Shock Slot Option punish over-aggressive blitzers and soft cushions, and QB Draw is the only true run look. Tags like 3DRB, Gadget, Power HB, and SLWR highlight the value of a receiving back or hybrid player who can win from the slot or boundary.
Strengths
- The stacked trey creates built-in rubs and release conflicts, so Curl Switch, Smash Seam, and Z Under are elite man beaters against press or Cover 1 without needing extra hot routes
- Stick concepts (Y Stick, Double Stick, Stick N Nod) give fast triangle reads that beat Cover 3 and Cover 4 curl-flat defenders, with Stick N Nod punishing robbers and users jumping the sit route
- Empty alignment forces the defense to show its coverage shell and blitz look pre-snap, making it easy to identify man versus zone and audible to the right beater
- Isolating a 3DRB or SLWR back against a linebacker in man coverage creates mismatches on option routes, wheels (Post Wheel), and angle-style releases from the backfield alignment
- The screen package (Jailbreak Screen, Slot Middle Screen) and Shock Slot Option turn blitz heavy defenses into big yardage because there is no back to account for and defenders commit early
Weaknesses
- No backfield protection means any six man pressure or nano blitz off the edge beats your line, and you only have the five offensive linemen to block
- Only one true run play (QB Draw) makes the set highly predictable, so opponents can play pass-first shells with dime personnel and drop extra zone defenders
- A user-controlled linebacker or safety sitting in the middle hook zone can erase stick, levels, and slot option throws that break inside at short depth
- Cover 2 man or bracket coverage on the trey point man can shut down the primary rub concepts and force you into slower developing backside reads
- Opponents who press the backside two-receiver side and roll a safety over the top can take away Fade Out and Bench Corner, leaving you with only short in-breaking throws against a crowded middle
Usage Tips
Read the defense pre-snap: if you see a single high safety with defenders pressed over the trey, check to Curl Switch or Smash Seam. If you see soft cushions and two high safeties, go Y Stick or Double Stick for easy completions
On 3rd and short to medium, Stick N Nod and Levels are high percentage calls. Hot route the backside receiver to a slant or drag to create a second quick option if the defense shows zero blitz
When your opponent shows heavy blitz tendencies, audible to Jailbreak Screen or Slot Middle Screen. You can also hot route one trey receiver to block inside to pick up the extra rusher and buy half a second
Use QB Draw sparingly against dime and quarter looks where linebackers bail into deep zones, especially with a mobile QB, to keep the defense honest and punish dropped rushers
Against a user sitting in the middle hook, flip play art with Curl Flat Salem or Bench Corner to attack the sideline and flat, and throw away from the user's shade rather than forcing in-breaking routes
Plays (15)
Bench CornerCorner, Pass Play, Bench +2
Curl Flat SalemCurl, Curl Flat, Pass Play +5
Curl SwitchCurl, Pass Play, Dig +3
Double StickStick, Stick Concept, Pass Play +3
Fade OutOut, Fade, Pass Play +4
Jailbreak ScreenScreen Pass, Wr Screen, Pass Play +4
LevelsLevels, Pass Play, Cover 2 Beater +5
Post WheelPost, Wheel, Pass Play +2
QB DrawDraw, Qb Draw, Designed Qb Run +1
Shock Slot OptionOption Route, Motion, Pass Play +4
Slot Middle ScreenScreen Pass, Pass Play, Bubble Screen +4
Smash SeamSeam, Smash, Pass Play +7
Stick N NodStick, Stick Concept, Pass Play +3
Y StickStick, Stick Concept, Pass Play +3
Z UnderPass Play, Quick Pass, Out +6
