Playbooks

Stick

Pistol·U Off Trips·12

Stick Stick Concept Pass Play

Play diagram for Stick from Pistol U Off Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

SetU Off Trips

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 1 playbook

Pistol OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Stick out of Pistol U Off Trips 12 personnel shows a classic three level stick concept to the trips side paired with a backside dig from the isolated X receiver. The inside slot runs a corner route vertically up the seam, the middle stick receiver sits down around 5 yards, and the outside trips receiver runs a flat route to stretch the underneath defender horizontally, while the running back stays in to check release before releasing to the flat area behind the stick. This is a quick game man and zone beater built for fast reads, with the primary progression going stick to flat to the backside dig if the corner route occupies the deep defender.

Defensive Reads

Identify two high safeties pre-snap, since Stick struggles against a deep half shell that can help over the corner route and rob the stick window. Watch for a linebacker blitzing off the edge, the running back's check release into the flat becomes the emergency valve against pressure looks. Zone defenses with a hard flat defender will jump the flat route, so key the stick sitting down behind him for the easy completion. Man coverage with underneath lurk defenders sitting in passing lanes can bait a quarterback into throwing the stick route into contact, so read the linebacker's eyes before committing. Cover 3 with a deep middle defender can rob the backside dig, so if the corner route to trips does not clear space, expect the safety to sink and cut off the intermediate crosser.

Usage Tips

Use this on third and short to third and medium since the stick route and flat combo attack underneath zones and hard man coverage instantly.

Check the middle linebacker depth pre-snap, if he is sitting shallow in a Tampa 2 shell or MOFC alignment, hot route the stick receiver to a deeper option or take the backside dig immediately.

Against man coverage, target the stick receiver's settle move since it creates natural separation from linebackers who lack the hips to mirror the sit down route.

Pair this with PA Boot or PA Slot Out from the same formation to keep defenders honest on the flat and stick combo, since both plays sell similar backfield action before branching into different route depths.

If you see a cornerback pressed on the backside X receiver, expect man coverage across the board, which favors the flat route winning quickly against a flowing linebacker.