Playbooks

Mtn Stick

Shotgun·Deuce Close·12

Stick Stick Concept Motion Pass Play

Play diagram for Mtn Stick from Shotgun Deuce Close in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetDeuce Close

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

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Breakdown

Mtn Stick is a classic Stick concept run from Shotgun Deuce Close with 12 personnel, featuring a pre-snap motion to adjust the formation before the snap. Off the diagram, the backside receiver runs a deep crossing route all the way across the field as a home run shot if the defense sleeps, while the two inside receivers on the strong side both run stick routes: one settling underneath and one sitting down a few yards outside the hash. This is a true man and zone beater because the stick combo forces defenders to declare on the shallow sit routes while the deep cross clears out any leaky zone coverage. Primary progression starts with the inner stick sitting route, works to the outer stick route, and finally checks the deep crosser if a bust in coverage or a busted zone shows up downfield.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flow of the pre-snap motion defender, if a linebacker or defensive back runs across with the motion man it is a strong indicator of man coverage and you should attack the stick sit routes immediately. Key the underneath zone defenders after the snap, if they sink hard on the stick routes and ignore the deep crosser, that tells you the defense is playing a Cover 3 or Cover 4 shell with soft underneath zones. Be wary of user linebackers sitting in the passing lanes of the stick routes, a smart human defender will often lurk right in that throwing window to jump the sit route for a big play. If the defense shows a two high safety look pre-snap with corners playing off, expect zone coverage underneath and prioritize the stick routes over the deep cross since the cross will be covered by a deep safety. Beware of blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the deep crossing route takes time to develop and can leave the quarterback exposed if protection breaks down before the sticks come open.

Usage Tips

Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is playing man or zone, if the defender follows across the formation it confirms man coverage and you should prioritize the stick sit routes underneath.

Against zone shells, look to hit the stick routes in the soft spot between the linebacker levels since those zone defenders will be conflicted between the flat and the deep crosser.

This play works great on third and short to third and medium since the stick routes are designed to get easy yardage against zone hooks and off man coverage.

Pair Mtn Stick with Mtn RPO Zone Stick or RPO Peek Stick in your play-calling sequence, since the pre-snap motion look is nearly identical and keeps defenses guessing about whether you are running an RPO or a straight dropback stick concept.

If the defense starts jumping the stick routes after seeing this play on tape, go to Mtn WR Corner or Mtn Y Corner out of the same formation to hit the corner route behind an aggressive underneath defender.