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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Stick from Pistol U Off Trips is a quick-hitting man and zone beater built around the classic Stick concept on the trips side. The backside X runs a deep vertical to hold the safety while the flanker on that side runs an out breaker across the field, and inside the formation the tight ends and slot run the stick combination: one flat route, one hitch/stick sitting at the sticks, and one corner or seam winning outside leverage, with the HB releasing on a check release flare underneath. Blocking is a standard five man protection up front with the RB checking for pressure before releasing, and the primary read progression is stick to flat to the checkdown flare, working outside in based on the linebacker who walls the stick route.
Defensive Reads
Look for linebackers walling off the stick route at the sticks, if they sink too deep the flat route underneath opens up immediately. Watch the flat defender's depth pre-snap, if he is playing off or bailing to cover the corner route the flat becomes wide open for an easy pitch and catch. Against zone coverage, the stick sitting behind the underneath defenders and in front of the deep defenders is the money read, especially versus Cover 3 sky or Cover 4 shells. Man coverage with no help over the top gets exposed by the deep vertical from the backside X, so check if the corner is playing tight man with no safety rotation. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers get neutralized by the quick flare and stick routes since the ball can be out in under two seconds, but disguised zone blitzes with a spy on the flare can bait a bad throw.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing man or zone by checking linebacker depth over the trips side, if they are heads up and tight expect man coverage on the stick route.
Use the flare control on the HB as your answer against blitz looks since it is the fastest developing route and gets the ball out before pressure arrives.
If you see a single high safety shell, work the stick to corner combo hard on the play side since that usually signals man coverage underneath.
Pair this play with PA Boot or PA Slot Out out of the same formation to keep the defense honest against the play-action look after you have hit the quick game a few times.
Best used on early downs to stay ahead of the sticks or in third and short situations where the stick route sits right at the marker for an easy conversion.
