Defense vs. QB in shotgun, empty backfield

[CaptainQuint]

15 January 2007 in San Diego, Brady's 1st play began with him under center, but then he dropped back into shotgun, with empty backfield.
Other times in shotgun, Faulk or other RB was next to him but, often in that game, Brady was the only back.
My question: could dropping all, or almost all defenders, back into coverage, frustrate Brady, or force him to become the running back?
The Ravens last year, at times, seemed to use this defense, with the offensive linemen having NO defender to block.
A QB capable of running could spoil this defense, as could 1 of the receivers, sent back to take a delayed handoff from the QB.
When an offense is guaranteed to be running, defenses stack the box.
So when an offense is guaranteed to be passing, could un-stacking the box be a successful defense(i.e., the offense has 5 receivers, with 5 pass blockers doing NOTHING, and the defense has potentially 11 defenders, to cover those 5 receivers).
Or am I overlooking something obviously wrong with an unstacked defense?

 

[Vintage]

The obvious disadvantage is it gives Brady all the time in the world to throw...

But seeing as how no team has beaten perhaps the greatest offense/team of all time.....it might be worth trying it a few times to see if it throws them off.

 

[firehawk350]

It depends on the QB as you've said. Brady and Manning, I would go after them and force a quick throw because you know they WILL roast you with 7-8 in coverage and 7+ seconds to throw. A scrambling/Tony Romo type QB is a different story. Yes, he can throw and move, but he'll also take a sack or throw up a duck if he can't dodge the defender. So it's a guessing game. A guy like Lienart or Cutler... Rookie with not much mobility, definitely. You know the game hasn't slowed down for him, so make him make his decisions faster. Just me though.