---
title: "Empty Formation in Football Explained"
description: "Empty puts five receivers out with no back in the backfield. How it lines up, what it forces the defense to show and the passing concepts run from it."
url: https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/formations/empty/
---

formation

# Empty Formation

Empty spreads five receivers out with no back, leaving the QB alone in the shotgun. It stretches the defense across the whole field and usually makes the coverage easy to read before the snap.

![Empty Lt formation diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/formations/empty-left.webp)

Empty Lt

![Empty Rt formation diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/formations/empty-right.webp)

Empty Rt

## How Empty Lines Up

In Crucible's Empty, five receivers, including the tight end, split out across the formation. It is a 3x2 look: three to the tight end side and two to the other.

## What It Does to a Defense

- Covering five receivers thins out the box and the underneath zones.
- Man and blitzes are easy to spot, because defenders have to declare who they are covering.
- With no back to help protect, you have to get the ball out fast against pressure.

## How to Read It

Count the safeties and see if defenders are aligned over receivers (man) or spread in zones. Know your hot throw in case they bring more rushers than you can block.

## Concepts Crucible Runs From Empty

-

![Dig diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/dig.thumb.webp)

Dig HB Option / In
-

![Branch diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/branch.thumb.webp)

Branch Branch / Arrow / Go

-

![Option diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/option.thumb.webp)

Option Option / Go

-

![Cruise diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/cruise.thumb.webp)

Cruise Chute / Inside-Shin / Outside-Shin

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![Curl diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/curl.thumb.webp)

Curl Diagonal / Curl
-

![Hitch diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/hitch.thumb.webp)

Hitch Seam / Hitch
-

![Slant diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/slant.thumb.webp)

Slant Diagonal / Slant
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![Stick diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/stick.thumb.webp)

Stick Stick / Arrow / Go

+ 2 more in Crucible

## Empty Plays in Crucible

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![Branch Dig diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/branch-dig.thumb.webp)

Branch Dig

-

![Cruise Option diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/cruise-option.thumb.webp)

Cruise Option

-

![Curl Juke diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/curl-juke.thumb.webp)

Curl Juke

-

![Hitch Juke diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/hitch-juke.thumb.webp)

Hitch Juke

-

![Stick Slant diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/stick-slant.thumb.webp)

Stick Slant

-

![Twig Bash diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/twig-bash.thumb.webp)

Twig Bash

## Related passing concepts

-

Stick Stick / Arrow / Go

Rep Empty in Crucible
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