Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Y Stick out of Pistol Wing Flex sends three receivers to the trips side on quick, timing-based routes while the tight end at the line runs a vertical release read against a blitzing defender. The two outside receivers stack their releases into corner routes up the sideline, the inner slot receiver sits down on the stick route, and the play works as a classic man and zone beater built for the quick passing game. Primary read progression starts with the stick route in the flat, then works to the corner routes if the underneath defender squats hard on the stick, giving the quarterback a fast, high-percentage throw.
Defensive Reads
Check the depth of the underneath linebackers and slot corner before the snap, shallow alignment signals man coverage and an easy stick throw. Watch for Cover 3 sink drops, if the flat defender widens too far the stick route sits in a natural throwing lane underneath. Identify Cover 2 shells by safety depth, since the corner routes attack the seam between the corner and safety in that shell. Look for a user-controlled defender lurking near the stick route, a common counter is to spy that route and bait the quarterback into a pick. Beware of overload blitzes to the trips side, if the offensive line cannot pick up extra rushers the quarterback needs to get the ball out on the stick route immediately or check it down.
Usage Tips
Get the ball out fast on the stick route since this is designed to counter both man and zone pressure without holding the ball.
Read the flat defender or nickel corner pre-snap, if they are sitting in the short zone, throw the corner route behind them for the explosive gain.
Use motion or a hot route to convert the inner receiver into a shallow drag if you see Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells that flood the underneath zones.
Pair this play with HB Slip Screen or HB Draw to slow down aggressive linebackers who key the pass and crash the stick route too fast.
Call this on third and short to medium distance since the stick route is a built-in conversion route, and layer it with Dagger later in a drive once defenders start jumping the quick game.
