Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Stick out of Shotgun Flanker Close shows a route concept with three receivers to the left releasing on vertical and out breaking routes, a slot man running a quick stick route with a settle read, and the closed side receiver working a comeback route back toward the sideline. The red route on the tight end or slot defender near the core shows a hot route flag adjustment, indicating a hitch or stick conversion versus blitz looks. This is a man and zone beater built on quick timing throws, with the stick concept giving the quarterback a fast high low read against underneath defenders while the comeback route stretches the boundary corner. The primary read progression starts with the stick route in the middle of the field, then works to the comeback route on the boundary if the flat defender squats on the stick.
Defensive Reads
Watch for underneath zone defenders sitting on the stick route since that tips off cover 3 or cover 4 match zone looks. If the corner on the closed side is playing off man technique, expect the comeback route to be the primary target so jump the route early with a user controlled defender. Look for a nickel or slot corner walking up pre snap which signals a possible blitz, forcing the quarterback into a quick hot route read. Cover 2 shells with safeties splitting the field deep will bait the stick throw into a waiting linebacker, so sit your underneath defenders in the passing lane. Man coverage with no deep safety help over the top invites a big play on the comeback route, so rotate a safety over late to disguise the coverage and prevent an easy completion.
Usage Tips
Use pre snap motion or a shift to identify if you are facing man or zone coverage before the snap since the stick concept reacts differently to both shells.
Against zone, read the stick defender first and throw underneath the sitting linebacker or nickel before he can drop into the passing lane.
Against man coverage, immediately look to the comeback route on the boundary since it creates natural separation off the break against trail technique.
This play works best on third and short to medium distance since the stick and comeback combo gives you two quick conversion options.
Pair this play with HB Counter or Inside Zone from the same set to keep the defense honest, then come back to Stick when they start cheating linebackers into run support.
Hot route the outside receiver to a quick out if you see cover 2 shells pre snap to attack the flat before the corner can sink under the comeback.
