Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Stick Slot Option lines up out of Shotgun Normal Y Off with 11 personnel, showing two outside receivers running vertical seams up the numbers while the slot receiver runs an option route that breaks flat or sits in the middle depending on the leverage of the underneath defender. The inline tag runs a quick vertical stem into the seam as well, and the running back stays in to chip and check release before working out to the flat, giving the quarterback a five man route distribution with a two man protection behind it. This is a classic Stick concept built as a man and zone beater, with the primary read starting on the option route from the slot, working to the flat or check release, and finally up to the vertical seams if the underneath defenders sink too deep.
Defensive Reads
Watch the slot cornerback or nickel defender at the snap, if he sits inside the option route will break outside to the flat for an easy completion. Key the middle linebacker depth, a shallow drop signals zone coverage underneath that the option route can settle in front of for a chain moving gain. Man coverage with no safety help over the slot is the most vulnerable shell, since the option route creates natural separation on any hard cut. A two high shell with the corners playing outside leverage on the vertical routes can bait the quarterback into the option read, so sit the user linebacker directly under that route to jump the throw. Disguised blitzes off the edge attack the two man protection quickly, so a defense bringing five or six with press corners on the verticals forces a fast, low value checkdown to the running back.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify whether the slot corner or nickel is playing inside or outside leverage, since that dictates whether the option route breaks out to the flat or sits in versus zone.
Use this on third and short to medium since the option route and check release swing give the quarterback a built in safety valve against both man and zone pressure.
Hot route the backside vertical into a quick out or slant if you see a two high shell rotating hard to that side, since it removes the extra defender from the option read.
Pair this with 45 Quick Base or Curl Flats in your play calling sequence to keep the defense guessing between quick option throws and deeper curl breaks out of the same formation look.
Against man coverage, put your best route runner in the slot option spot since the natural spacing at the top of the route creates consistent separation versus press or trail technique.
