Playbooks

Stick

Shotgun·Empty Base·11
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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Stick out of Shotgun Empty Base 11 personnel is a classic quick-game concept built around stick routes to the trips or twin side, paired with a flat route and an outside vertical or corner breaking route depending on the receiver alignment. There is no run blocking to worry about since this is an empty backfield, so every eligible receiver is in a route and the offensive line is in pure pass protection. The primary read progression starts with the stick (sit) route in the middle of the concept, works down to the flat defender for the swing or flat man, then climbs back to the outside route if the flat player squats and takes away the stick.

Defensive Reads

Read the flat defender first since he decides the conflict between the stick and flat routes, if he widens with the flat man the stick window opens up underneath. Check linebacker depth pre-snap, if the second level defenders are sitting shallow they can jump the stick route and bait a throw into a lurk. Identify Cover 3 versus Cover 4 by watching the corner, a hard outside shade with deep help usually signals off coverage that lets you work the stick and flat combo underneath. Watch for man match concepts like Cover 6 or Cover 4 press since the stick route loses some of its natural rub advantage against tight man technique and can get jumped by a sticky corner. Against blitz heavy fronts, look for a spy or extra rusher off the slot, since empty formations remove blockers and a well timed nano blitz can beat this concept before the stick route settles.

Usage Tips

Use Stick on third and short to medium since the stick route settles in soft spots and gives the QB a quick, high percentage throw against both man and zone. Check the flat defender before the snap. If he is sitting on the flat route, hot route the stick receiver into a shoot or slant to speed up the throw against man coverage. Motion a receiver across the formation to identify man versus zone based on whether a defender follows, since empty sets make this motion check easy to diagnose. Pair Stick with Y Cross or Drag Double Spot in your play calling sequence so the defense sees the same initial receiver distribution but has to defend a completely different vertical stress. Against aggressive user blitzers, get the ball out on the stick or flat immediately since Empty Base offers no extra protection and the QB is exposed to interior pressure.

Other Plays in Empty Base