Stick out of Shotgun 5WR Trio uses a five wide alignment with no running back protection, so this is a pure pass play with a quick timing route concept. The trio side runs a stick combination: the inside slot runs a short flat route, the next receiver runs an angle route breaking outside, and the outermost trio receiver runs a corner route stretching the deep third. On the backside, one receiver runs a vertical seam that breaks into a deep out, while the other stays in as a check release or blocker before releasing outside. This is a classic zone beater built to attack cover 2 and cover 3 by flooding the flat and stick area with three levels of routes, and the primary read progression starts with the corner route on the trio side to see if the deep defender bites underneath, then works down to the angle route and finally the flat route as the quick access throw against a soft cushion.

Defensive Reads

Watch the trio side linebacker depth at the snap, since a shallow drop signals he is keying the stick or angle route and will not get out to the flat in time. Key the flat side cornerback leverage presnap, if he is playing outside shade with no underneath help the flat route becomes an easy completion against zone drops. Look for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field, since Stick concepts can get picked off by a linebacker sinking into the angle route window if the quarterback stares it down. Against man coverage, check if the corner route defender has inside or outside leverage, since Stick is not built to consistently win one on one deep against tight man coverage without a hot route adjustment. If the defense shows a blitz with only single high safety help, the flat route and angle route become quick answers, but the vertical seam on the backside can get exposed if the safety cheats to the trio side.

Usage Tips

Presnap identify if the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high safety, since Stick punishes cover 2 and cover 3 shells that leave the flat and stick zones underprotected. If you see man coverage with no safety help over the trio, hot route the corner route into a quick out or slant to speed up the timing against tight coverage. Use this play on early downs like first or second and medium to keep the defense honest, then pair it with Curl Flats or Mesh Spot later in the drive so the defense cannot sit on the same flat and stick reads. Against zone heavy opponents, rush the flat route reader progression, since linebackers dropping into the stick window will often overcommit to the angle route and open the flat throw. If the opponent shows blitz presnap, check to the backside vertical seam route since it can turn into a quick answer against man beaters if the corner route gets jumped.

Stick

Quick Reference

In 10 playbooks

Receiver routes

Read progression

Breakdown

Defensive Reads

Usage Tips

Other Plays in 5WR Trio