Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Stick out of Shotgun Deuce Close (12 personnel) shows a classic Stick concept to the trips-like side with a motion tag. Pre snap motion brings a receiver across to adjust the picture, then at the snap the outside receiver runs a deep clear route up the sideline, the inline slot runs a stick/hitch route sitting down around 5 yards, and the backside single receiver runs a deep vertical clear route to hold the corner. This is a zone beater built to attack the void underneath cover 2 and cover 3 shells, and the primary read progression is stick route first, working outside to the clearing routes if the flat defender or hook defender jumps the stick.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender and hook/curl linebacker after the snap, if either one sits on the stick route immediately look outside to the clearing verticals. Watch safety depth pre-snap, two deep safeties with off corners signals cover 2 and tells you the stick will have a natural throwing window underneath. If the defense shows single high safety with press corners, expect cover 3 or man coverage, and the deep clear routes become more valuable as they stress the corners and safety over the top. Post snap, identify any user-controlled lurk defender sitting in the shallow middle zone, since they can jump the stick route and bait an interception if you stare it down. Blitz packages that bring extra defenders off the edge can be exposed if the stick route releases quickly enough for a hot throw, so watch for overload blitz looks pre-snap and get the ball out fast.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows across the formation you know it's man coverage and you can hot route the stick into a quicker option route.
Attack cover 2 and cover 3 shells since the stick sits in the natural void between the flat defender and the hook linebacker.
On third and short to medium distance this is a great money play since the stick route is designed to settle in soft zones for an easy completion and first down.
Pair this with Mtn RPO Zone Stick or RPO Peek Stick earlier in a drive so the defense has to respect the run action, then come back to Mtn Stick to hit the same stick window off play action tendencies.
If you see aggressive user linebackers flying downhill on the stick route, work the deep clear routes on the outside since they are designed to hold safeties and open up explosive shot plays off the same look.
