Empty Formation: Top Pass Routes with Answers for Every Coverage

 When you run empty there are several ways to teach the QB.

#1The most common I find is to run man/zone concepts out of it and teach the QB how to read it.

What I mean by that is you have man concepts to one side and zone concepts to the other. If the QB reads man he throws to that side, if he reads zone he throws to the other side.

#2 You can run your horizontal & vertical type passing game system. In that scenario you will run more universal concepts: Universal concepts means you have route concepts that work vs any coverage. But the read is vertical to horizontal. Or top down. Work the vertical side first back to the horizontal side.

#3 You need to have the ability to throw hot in empty protection. You can only block 5 so the qb needs to be taught who to read for his hot throw and have that built into the system.

Here are some routes out of empty that teams have had success with. Let’s look at 3 split field concepts. On one side you have your zone beaters and on the other you have your man concepts. In the next three examples the slants are the backside man beaters.

Colts Offense 21

Smash/Inside Drive Concept

They run a zone beater to the field and man beater to the bottom of the screen. All indications is it’s zone pre snap because they have a cb out on the #1 WR who is a RB. But, they do have the inside drive concept if the defense did go man.

Pre snap it becomes cover 2 so Wentz throws the corner route.

Let’s look at 3 concepts with the backside slant as the man beater.

Dolphins vs Chargers. 2023

Pre-snap man coverage

Route concept

stick route to the 3 wr side-this is your zone beater.

2 WR side-run waddle on the slant is your man beater.

They have waddle in the slot vs a CB in a matchup they like, they hit him on the slant route because of the recognition of man to man defense.

#2 drive with slants

route concept drive with slant

man- the top of the screen, Hill outside releases with the #1 WR running the slant.

Slant to the top-excellent zone beater.

Tua likes the top although he has the go route by #2 wide open to the bottom of the screen with route by Berrios. Excellent design and execution.

LSU vs Georgia

Bunch formation Snag concept with double slants.(Can also run stick or sail with double slants)

2 WR side: man beater 2 slants

Bunch 3 WR side: zone beater-spot/snag route

pre snap read-zone, post snap zone so he works the zone side.

 Falcons Empty

Formation: Trey to the boundary and stack to the field.

Route concept: 2 on a square in behind #3

Defense: 2 man

Have the RB to the trips side as the #2 WR with the TE on that side as well. The RB runs a quick 5 yard in using the te on the clear route as a pick. Nice man beater on 3rd and 10 for a first down.

Hoss Juke Concept

The Hoss juke is a Bill O Brien favorite. It allows the #3 wr to work inside, juke and go against a LB underneath.

Texans run the hoss concept out of empty. (hitch , seems by inside WR) with #3 working the middle of the field. This is how they used to run it with the Patriots with Gronk. Put the best WR at #3. He can work the middle of the field and adjust his route.

They match the #3 WR up and he can either run a sit or keep running vs the coverage Often times teams will put their best WR in the #3 position and have him work the middle of the field vs empty.  He can break it back out the other way as well. You also have answers vs cover 3 with the seam routes.

Another example where the #3 runs the juke but he hits the #2 on the fade.

Packers vs Eagles

Defense in cover 2. Packers run a progression read

read the vertical bender to the top of the screen to the in breaking route at the bottom of the screen. 

#3 WR runs the 2 beater deep bender route with 2 running the in route. On the backside to the 2 WR side you have a horizontal route with the in behind the seem route. The left side is your man beater side.

nice drive concept 

good concept  as the middle of the field is open.

film

Cover 0

Ravens run double slants vs cover 0 with the smash concept to the trips side

The panthers are running a read it type concept with the ILB. If the guard steps your way drop. They try to get the LB underneath but Lamar waits for the window on the nice 30 yard completion. Always have to have a hot side type throw vs cover 0.

Film:

Play Action
Probably wondering how you have play action but in this situation, the QB fakes the draw and they hit the h back down the middle of the field.

13P

The last concept is out of 13P. The Colts 21 run shallow sit.

Film:

I hope you enjoyed this article!

Other resources to look at:

Texans hoss juke

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxWtI57uaIc

LSU Empty Routes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiWS5dQIbTc