Playbooks

Mtn Empty Slants Stick

Shotgun·Wing Flex Offset·12

Slant Stick Stick Concept Motion Pass Play

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetWing Flex Offset

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 7 playbooks

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Breakdown

Mtn Empty Slants Stick is an empty backfield passing concept out of Shotgun Wing Flex Offset that uses pre-snap motion to shift protection and create favorable spacing for the quick game. The route combo pairs slant routes on the perimeter with stick concepts from the inside receivers, giving you a natural progression of slant to stick flat to backside stick. This is primarily a man beater thanks to the quick separation created by the slants and the natural rub potential from the motion, but it also holds up against zone since the stick concept sits down in the underneath voids against Cover 2 and Cover 3. With five receivers out and no running back to check down to, the primary read starts with the pre-snap motion defender, then works to the frontside slant, and finally the stick flat as the checkdown against pressure.

Defensive Reads

Watch the motion defender closely, if a linebacker or defensive back trails the motion man across the formation it confirms man coverage and opens up the slant window immediately. Identify two high safety shells pre-snap, against Cover 2 the stick concept will sit down in the seam between the corner and safety zone drops for an easy completion. Key on the underneath linebackers after the snap, if they sink hard into the stick zone against Cover 3 you need to work the backside slant instead of forcing the ball into a crowded window. This play struggles against disciplined Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells with quick flat defenders who can jump the stick route, so be ready to reset to a deeper progression or check down to the backside slant. Watch for blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge since the empty formation leaves no extra protection, quick recognition of pressure should trigger an immediate throw to the nearest open route rather than holding the ball.

Usage Tips

Use the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows across the formation you know you are getting man coverage and can lean into the slants immediately.

Hot route the backside stick to a flat route if you are seeing a heavy blitz look, this gives you a faster outlet against nano blitzes and five or six man pressure.

This play excels on third and short to third and medium since the stick concept sits at the sticks and the slants create quick access throws that stress zone defenders horizontally.

Pair this with Mtn Empty Jailbreak Screen and Mtn Empty Mesh Go's in the same formation to keep the defense guessing, since all three plays start from the same empty look but attack different levels and coverage weaknesses.

Against aggressive user blitzers, throw the frontside slant on a quick timing throw before the second level defenders can drop into the throwing lane.