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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Stick Knife lines up out of Shotgun Doubles Y Off with 11 personnel and shows a classic Stick concept married to a knife route on the backside. The outside receiver to the field runs a corner-style pivot into a deep out along the sideline while the inside slot works an under route flattening across the middle underneath, the two combining to stretch flat defenders horizontally and vertically. On the backside, the single receiver runs a vertical seam up the numbers while the running back releases out of the backfield on a wheel route to the flat, giving you a built-in checkdown or coverage-beater versus man defenders who try to stay attached. This is a man beater and zone beater hybrid, with the Stick side attacking underneath zone defenders and the running back wheel attacking any linebacker or safety who tries to man up in coverage. Primary progression starts with the Stick concept flat-to-corner read, then works to the backside seam, and checks down to the running back wheel versus blitz or aggressive underneath coverage.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender first, if he sits on the underneath route the corner route behind him should be open against zone coverage. Watch the slot cornerback or nickel defender on the underneath crossing route, aggressive jumps on that route open a throwing lane to the corner route breaking outside. Against man coverage, key the linebacker assigned to the running back, if he widens late to cover the wheel the seam route on the backside is your best answer. Look for a single-high safety rotating late, this often signals man coverage underneath which favors the backside seam over the Stick side. Beware disguised blitzes off the edge, since the running back's wheel release delays his ability to help in protection, so check the pre-snap edge alignment and get the ball out quickly if extra rushers show.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two-high or single-high safety, since Stick Knife thrives against zone shells that leave the flat and hook areas soft.
If you see man coverage with a linebacker on the running back, hot route the running back's wheel earlier or trust the seam route on the backside since the corner route will be tightly covered.
Use this play on early downs or third and short to medium since the Stick concept gives you a quick, high-percentage completion if the corner route is jumped by a cornerback playing outside leverage.
Pair Stick Knife with RPO Peek Slant or RPO Zone Peek in the same set to keep the defense honest on run fits, then come back to Stick Knife once linebackers start crashing downhill.
Sequence this play after Four Verticals or Y-sail so defenses respect the deep shot, opening up the underneath Stick combo against softer zone drops.
