Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Stick out of Shotgun Ace Slot Offset is a quick game man and zone beater built around a three level stick concept to the trips side. The inline tight end and slot receiver run a stick and flat combo underneath while the outside receiver clears vertically on a go route, and the backside receiver runs a deep in breaking crosser from the opposite side of the formation. The running back releases into the flat as a checkdown option, giving the quarterback a full progression from the flat to the stick sit route with the crosser and vertical serving as answers against soft zone coverage.
Defensive Reads
Bail zone corners and a linebacker sitting flat at the sticks is the first key that Stick is beaten. Squatting corners who read the flat route quickly can jump the outside stick throw before it develops, so watch for a cornerback staying low and driving on the number two receiver. Man coverage with the slot defender aligned inside leaves the flat and stick routes wide open against off-man technique. If the defense shows press-man on the outside receiver running the go route, expect the boundary corner to try to disrupt the release, which slows the deep clear-out but opens quick game underneath. Watch the play side flat defender (usually a linebacker or nickel) at the snap. If he widens fast to the flat route, that signals zone coverage rolling toward the trips or offset side, meaning the stick route sitting down at five to six yards becomes the best answer versus a soft cushion. A blitzing Mike or Will linebacker crashing through the A or B gap is the biggest threat since Stick uses a five man protection with no max protect look. If pre-snap you see a linebacker walked up with no clear hot route declared, expect interior pressure and get the ball out on rhythm to the underneath stick or flat. Cover 3 shells with a deep third safety over the vertical clear-out route can bait the quarterback into a covered throw. If the free safety rotates late to the same side as the go route, check down immediately to the flat or stick instead of forcing the deep shot.
Usage Tips
Use Stick on third and short to third and medium since the stick route sitting down at five yards gives an easy sit read against both zone and man coverage. Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two deep safeties or single high, because Cover 2 shells invite the stick sit route into the void behind the flat defender and in front of the deep half safety. If the slot cornerback or nickel walks up showing blitz, hot route the running back to release quickly into the flat as your immediate outlet against pressure. Pair this play with PA Verts or PA Y Corner from the same formation to keep the defense honest, since both plays sell the same initial run action or quarterback drop before attacking downfield. Against man coverage, put your best route runner in the slot to work the stick and use the go route on the outside as a clear out, forcing the corner to run vertically and opening space underneath.
