Playbooks

Stick

Shotgun·Doubles Y-Flex·11

Stick Stick Concept Pass Play Fade Flat Streak

Play diagram for Stick from Shotgun Doubles Y-Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetDoubles Y-Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Dolphins OffenseOffense NFL Live Dolphins OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Stick from Shotgun Doubles Y-Flex sends both outside receivers vertical on go routes to occupy the deep coverage, while the inside slot runs a quick stick route to the flat and the flexed TE releases into the middle of the field on a shallow crossing route with a slight settle at the sticks. The RB stays in to check release or leak out underneath, giving the quarterback a layered read from the flat to the stick to the crosser. This is a classic zone beater built around the stick concept, attacking underneath zone voids while the two verticals stretch the deep thirds and hold safeties, making it effective versus both zone shells and off man coverage.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check linebacker depth and spacing since the stick concept exploits shallow zone drops if the backers are sitting too deep or widened out for run support. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow crossing lane, since a lurking linebacker or nickel defender can jump the crosser and create a turnover opportunity. Cover 3 and Cover 4 zone shells are vulnerable to this concept because the stick and shallow routes sit in the soft spot between the underneath zone and the deep coverage. Man coverage with an aggressive blitz can disrupt this play if the offensive line cannot pick up a nano blitz, since the quick game timing relies on a clean pocket for the short read. Post-snap, key on the safety rotation, if both safeties bail deep to respect the verticals, the underneath defenders are on an island and the stick or crosser should come open quickly.

Usage Tips

Use this on third and short to third and medium since the stick and shallow cross combo is designed to convert against zone drops without needing a chunk gain.

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two high or single high safety look, if you see two high, expect softer underneath zones and the stick route will be open quickly.

Hot route the flexed TE crosser into a hitch or option route if you are facing man coverage with no natural pick, since the natural rub only works cleanly versus zone.

Combine this with Curl Flats or Charger Cross from the same set to keep the defense guessing between a shallow crossing action and a curl flat combo, both attacking similar underneath zones with different timing.

If the defense starts sitting hard on the stick route after repeated snaps, counter with Four Verticals or PA Deep Outs from the same formation to punish overaggressive underneath defenders.