Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 14 playbooks
Breakdown
Empty Stick spreads five eligible receivers across the formation with no running back in the backfield, isolating the stick concept on the right side. The outside receiver runs a vertical seam up the numbers while the slot receiver underneath sits down on a stick route to the flat area, with the inside receiver working an out breaking route toward the sideline to complete the triangle read. On the backside, the far receiver runs a deep vertical clear out route while the inline receiver runs a shallow drag underneath, giving the quarterback a full field stick concept with a built in hot read against pressure. This is a man and zone beater built around the stick triangle, with the primary progression starting at the stick flat route, then working to the out route, and finally to the vertical seam if a defender bites underneath.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a single high safety shell, which usually indicates man coverage underneath and opens up the stick flat route against a linebacker in coverage. Two deep safeties with the corners playing off usually signal zone coverage, in which case the out route sitting down in the void behind the underneath defenders becomes the best target. Key the slot defender's first step at the snap, if he sinks deep instead of covering the flat, that confirms zone and the stick route is open immediately. Watch for a nano blitz off the edge or a delayed linebacker blitz through the empty backfield, since there is no back to pick up pressure, the quarterback must get the ball out fast on the stick or drag. Press man coverage across the board with a blitzer showing pre-snap is the biggest threat to this concept, as it removes the timing window needed to work the stick triangle.
Usage Tips
Use empty formations like this to force the defense to declare coverage pre-snap since there is no back to check into a blitz.
Identify if the defense is playing zone or man by watching the slot corner and linebacker leverage before the snap, if they are shaded outside expect man coverage.
Hot route the backside drag into a deeper crosser against zone heavy defenses to stress the middle of the field and open up throwing lanes.
This play works well on third and short to third and medium since the stick route to the flat is a quick, high percentage completion against underneath zone defenders.
Pair this with Empty Y Cross or Empty Vertical from the same formation to keep the defense guessing between quick game and vertical shots.
