Empty
Five wide, no back — declare yourself, defense.
No running back in the backfield, five eligible receivers spread across the field. Empty forces the defense to declare: blitzers show themselves early, and the QB knows exactly where the free rusher is coming from.
What it does to the defense
Blitz declaration: with no back to protect, the defense has to show its hand. It forces dime personnel, reveals man or zone instantly, and the hot read is built into every play.
How each scheme uses it
Air Raid
The air-raid home: quick game and sight adjusts against the declared blitz.
West Coast
Empty quick game — slants, hitches, and option routes on demand.
Power Run (Gap)
Draw looks vs light boxes; empty spreads them out for the run game later.
Wide Zone
RPO game: glance and flat with no back for the defense to key on.
Spread Option
QB draw and sprint-out — the defense is spread too thin to account for the runner.
Vertical
Maximum spacing for four verticals, with hot reads built in vs the declared pressure.