Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn Stick is run from Shotgun Bunch Str Offset with 11 personnel and features a pre snap motion from the bunch that resets the leverage before the snap. Off the motion, the outside receiver runs a deep in that clears out to the opposite hash, the middle bunch receiver runs a corner route breaking outside and up the seam, and the nearest bunch receiver runs a quick out to the flat with the running back checking protection underneath. This is a classic Stick concept designed as a man beater, using the corner route to attack outside leverage while the flat route and deep in create natural picks against man coverage, with the primary read progression going flat route first for the quick throw, then to the corner as the high low, and finally to the deep in over the middle as the clear out option against zone drops.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, identify if the defense shifts a linebacker or safety over the bunch to account for the motion, this tips whether they are in man or a zone shell rotating to the trips side. Post snap, key the flat defender first since he has to choose between sitting on the stick route or widening to the flat, if he sinks the flat throw is there immediately. Watch for a underneath zone defender sitting in the passing lane of the corner route, a cover 3 or cover 4 shell with a hard flat defender can jump the flat and force you to the corner or deep in read. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the ideal look since the corner route will beat man leverage every time, while press man corners who trail the motion man tightly can be exposed if you hot route the flat into a speed out. Blitz heavy fronts that bring extra rushers off the edge opposite the bunch can be handled with a quick throw to the flat route since it serves as a built in answer against pressure.
Usage Tips
Use the pre snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you know you have a man beater matchup to exploit. Hot route the flat route into a speed out or the corner into a fade against aggressive corners playing press man to create more separation on the perimeter. This play shines on third and short to third and medium because the flat route is a built in safety valve while the corner route provides an explosive gain if the defense bites on the underneath stick. Pair this with Mtn Deep Post or HB Mtn Trail Dbl Post from the same set to keep defenses honest on the corner and post combos out of the same bunch look. Against zone coverage look to hit the flat route quickly before the underneath zone defenders can rotate and close the window.
