Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 13 playbooks
Breakdown
Stick Nod is an Empty Base Trio concept out of the Shotgun with 11 personnel, spreading five eligible receivers across the field with no running back in the backfield. On the trio side, the outer receiver runs a vertical clear route while the two inside receivers execute the Stick concept: one sits down on a quick stick route while the other runs a nod (a hitch that fakes a break before settling), and the far single receiver runs a straight vertical to hold the deep defender. The backside receiver runs a deep vertical as well, stretching the defense both horizontally and vertically. This is a man and zone beater built for quick access throws underneath, with the primary read progressing from the stick route to the nod route, then checking the vertical if a defender bites too hard on the shallow stuff.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a single high safety rotating late, which signals man coverage and means the stick and nod routes should win quickly against off man or bump technique. If you see two deep safeties holding their depth at the snap, that usually means zone underneath, so target the nod route sitting in the soft spot behind the shallow zone defenders. Key the flow of the nickel or slot corner on the trio side, if he crashes down on the stick route immediately you have a lurk defender who will jump the nod route on your second read. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge or up the middle will often leave the stick concept uncovered since it is designed to beat man beaters, so a fast subtle blitz read allows a quick throw before the pressure arrives. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender rolling to the trio side is the toughest shell against this concept since it clogs both the stick and nod windows, so be ready to check to the backside vertical if that shell shows post snap.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high shell, since Stick Nod works well against both but the nod route becomes more dangerous versus zone drops that widen underneath. Look at the trio side linebacker or nickel depth before the snap, if they are sitting shallow the stick route will be there immediately on your first read. Use hot routes to convert the outside vertical into a quick out if you are facing heavy underneath pressure looks or a Cover 2 shell rolling hard to the trio side. This play shines on third and short to third and medium, where the stick and nod combo creates natural picks against man coverage and soft spots against zone drops. Pair this with Slants or Double Slant Stick in the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick game reads and traditional stick concepts, then mix in Deep Attack or Verticals H Option once the defense starts jumping the short routes.
