Playbooks

Stick

Shotgun·Flanker Close·10
StickStick ConceptPass PlayFlatHitchSlant
Play diagram for Stick from Shotgun Flanker Close in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffenseRun And Shoot OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Stick out of Shotgun Flanker Close is a classic Stick concept with three receivers to the left running a stick triangle: the outermost receiver runs an out breaking corner route while the two inside receivers work quick out and stick routes underneath, giving you a horizontal stretch on the flat defender. To the right, the tight end runs a short out to the flat while the backside X receiver runs a vertical release up the seam as a hot route option against man coverage. This is a zone beater at its core, built to isolate the curl to flat defender in the stick triangle, though the backside vertical also gives it a man beater answer versus press or aggressive corners. Primary read progression starts left to right: stick route first, then the flat, then work back to the backside vertical if the defense rolls coverage away from the trips side.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, watch linebacker depth and alignment on the trips side since the stick triangle is designed to attack the curl to flat defender's zone drop. If the defense shows two deep safeties with underneath zone drops, this play excels because the stick and out combo overloads a single defender in the flat. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow zone or lurking the stick route, as smart defenders will jump this route first since it is often the primary progression read. Man coverage with a blitz off the edge can disrupt this play quickly, so if you see a nano blitz package or extra rushers threatening the backside protection, get the ball out fast on the stick or hot route the vertical. Cover 4 or quarters shells with disciplined linebackers dropping into the passing lanes can take away both the stick and out routes, forcing the quarterback to rely on the backside vertical seam as the only real answer.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two high safeties or single high, since this concept thrives against zone shells like Cover 2 and Cover 3 where the stick triangle can pick apart the curl to flat defender.

If you see man coverage or a corner blitz look, hot route the backside receiver on the vertical seam into a quicker breaking route or use him as your first read since he can win one on one against a trailing corner.

Use this on third and short to medium situations where the underneath stick and out combo gives you a high percentage completion with easy YAC potential.

Pair this play with Y Sail or Z Spot from the same set to keep the defense guessing between horizontal stretch concepts and vertical shots, forcing linebackers to respect multiple route depths.

Against Cover 3, target the stick route sitting down right in the flat defender's zone drop before the corner or safety can rotate over the top.

Other Plays in Flanker Close