Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
RNS 90 Replace Y Stick is a Shotgun Spread Slots Close pass concept that combines a stick route with a corner breaking route to attack both underneath and intermediate zones. The outside receiver runs a corner route up the sideline, the slot receiver sits down on a stick route at the sticks, and the backside X runs an out and up (corner replace) that clears out the boundary while a fourth receiver runs a vertical seam to hold the deep defenders. This is primarily a zone beater that exploits Cover 3 and Cover 2 flat defenders by stacking a stick route underneath a clearing route, with the primary read progression starting on the stick route in the flat zone before working outside to the corner and vertical routes based on how the defense rotates.
Defensive Reads
Check the depth of the underneath linebackers pre-snap since shallow zone drops directly threaten the stick route sitting in the flat. Key the flat defender's leverage after the snap; if he sinks with the stick receiver, the window opens for the corner route behind him. Watch for a two-high safety shell, which signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 and makes the backside corner route a high-value shot against a slow-rotating safety. Beware disguised Cover 3 buzz where the flat defender jumps the stick route early, since that eliminates the primary progression and forces a quick check to the vertical seam. Man coverage with press alignment on the outside receivers is a strong deterrent, since the stick concept relies on zone spacing rather than pure route separation.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the flat defender is a linebacker or slot corner because the stick route is designed to sit down right in front of him and force a rep decision.
Use this on third and short to medium distance since the stick route provides a quick, high-percentage completion against zone drops.
If you diagnose man coverage pre-snap, hot route the stick receiver into a quick out or slant since stick concepts lose value against tight man leverage.
Pair this play with RNS Y Stick or RNS 590 Z Replace in the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick stick reads and deeper replace concepts off similar formations.
Watch the corner route on the backside; if the defense shows Cover 2, that route can be a big shot play if the safety cheats toward the stick side.
