Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Stick out of Pistol Wing Flex Close shows a classic 3-man Stick concept to the right and a two-man flood look to the left. To the right, the outside receiver runs a corner route stretching the sideline while the tight end sitting inside runs the stick route to the flat, creating a natural high-low read against the flat defender. To the left, the wing releases vertically on a seam/skinny post while the outside receiver runs a deep over route across the field, and the running back releases up the middle as a checkdown option. This is a man and zone beater built on horizontal and vertical stretches, with the primary read progressing from the stick route (flat) to the corner route (deep) on the play side, checking down to the middle seam or the running back if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender or curl to flat linebacker immediately after the snap since his reaction determines whether the stick route or corner route is open. If he sinks with the corner route, throw the stick underneath for an easy completion. If he jumps the stick route, the corner route is wide open behind him for a bigger gain. Watch for a user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow flat zone since this can jump the stick route and bait a interception if you are not patient. Against Cover 2, the safety over the top of the corner route is the key defender to read, since a good user safety can undercut the corner route and force the checkdown to the running back or middle seam. This concept struggles against aggressive Cover 3 sky or Cover 4 buzz looks where the flat defender squats hard, so be ready to move to the backside seam route or running back check if the underneath defenders sit deep.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing a two-high or one-high shell to decide which side of the field to attack first. Against Cover 3 or Cover 4, work the stick to corner combo since the flat defender has to widen for the stick, opening the corner route behind him. Against man coverage, especially Cover 1 or Cover 0, hot route the running back into a quick option route or use him as a checkdown since man defenders will trail the stick and corner tightly. Use this play on second and medium to third and short situations where the stick route alone can pick up the necessary yardage against underneath zone defenders sitting short. Pair this play with Zone Alert WR Screen or Spacing from the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick horizontal throws and this vertical stick to corner shot, forcing linebackers to hesitate on run fits.
