Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn Empty Slants Stick is an empty backfield pass concept out of the Wing Flex Offset set in Shotgun, using 12 personnel with pre-snap motion to declare the coverage shell before the snap. The concept pairs quick slants from the outside receivers with a stick concept (flat, slant, and hook combo) on one side, giving you a horizontal stretch that attacks both man and zone coverage. This is primarily a man beater thanks to the natural rub and separation created by the slants crossing underneath, though the stick side gives you a built-in answer versus zone if the linebackers sit on the underneath routes. The primary read progression starts with the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone, then works to the quick slant against man coverage or the stick flat route versus zone before checking down to the shorter stick option.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a defender shadowing the motion receiver across the formation, which confirms man coverage and tells you to attack the slant immediately for a quick pick up. Check safety depth pre-snap since two deep safeties often signal Cover 2 or Cover 4, meaning you should lean on the stick flat and hook combo rather than the slant into a squeezed window. Identify if linebackers are sitting shallow at the snap, since that indicates zone drops that will jump the stick route and force you to the backside slant window instead. Look for blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge since the empty backfield has no running back to chip, so a quick pre-snap slide protection read or hot route can be necessary against overload blitzes. Beware of a user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow middle zone, as this can undercut both the slant crossing routes and the stick hook if the quarterback holds the ball too long.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to bait defenders into revealing man coverage before the snap, since a defender running with the motion man confirms man and opens up the slant window immediately.
Hot route the backside slant into a quick out if you see a corner sitting hard on the route in Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells.
This play excels on 3rd and short to medium since the stick concept gives multiple quick options underneath that pick up the sticks without needing a deep shot.
Pair this with Mtn Empty Mesh Go's in your play-calling sequence since both come from the same empty formation and put stress on defenders trying to disguise man versus zone.
Combine with Mtn Empty Jailbreak Screen out of the same personnel to keep defenses honest against overly aggressive underneath blitz calls that try to jump the slants.
