Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Stack Out is a Shotgun Double Stack concept out of 11 personnel that puts two stacked receiver pairs on either side, each running a quick out and a wheel/corner combo. On the left the outside receiver runs a flat out while the inside stacked man clears vertically then breaks out at a deeper level, and on the right the outside stack receiver fires a quick out at the sticks while the inside receiver climbs the seam and breaks to a deep corner route. This is a man beater built to attack pick and rub concepts off the stack alignment, with the primary read starting at the quick out to the right side before working to the deep corner route as the natural progression against man coverage.
Defensive Reads
Man defenders lined up directly over the stacked receivers are vulnerable to the natural pick created by the stack release, so watch for a free receiver popping open on the out routes immediately after the snap. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with deep zone drops, the underneath out routes will sit in soft spots but the corner and wheel routes behind them can get squeezed by the deep third or quarter defenders. Watch for a user-controlled linebacker sitting in a lurk position underneath the stack since he can jump the shallow out route and create a turnover if the quarterback stares it down. Identify late blitz pressure off the edge before the snap since the stack alignment reduces initial blockers and can leave the quarterback exposed if the out route is covered and he has to hold the ball. Press coverage from press corners can disrupt the timing of the outs, so if you see press alignment at the snap expect the receiver to fight through contact before breaking, which can delay the throw window.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, look for man coverage indicators like corners lined up tight on the stacked receivers since the natural rub from the stack alignment creates instant separation on the outs.
Hot route the backside out into a deeper dig or comeback against zone shells if you see two high safeties sitting soft, since the shallow out concept flattens versus zone drops.
Use this play on early downs or third and short since the quick out routes convert fast and protect against a sack if the quarterback needs to check down under pressure.
Pair this with Curl Flat or Smash from the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick game and intermediate stuff attacking the same stack alignment.
Against blitz-heavy defenses, get the ball out immediately on the out route since the quick game beats pressure before it arrives, then bring in Four Verticals later in the series once the defense starts jumping the underneath routes.
