Playbooks

Mtn H Stick

Shotgun·Spread Y-Flex·11
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Mtn H Stick is a Shotgun 11 personnel concept out of the Spread Y-Flex set built around a quick stick route from the H (slot) receiver paired with underneath breakers to attack zone drops and off man coverage. The stick concept gives the quarterback a fast triangle read of the flat, stick, and corner or dig depending on the rest of the route distribution, making it a strong zone beater against Cover 3 and Cover 2 shells. The primary read progression starts with the H stick sitting down in the throwing lane, works to the flat defender if he widens, and finishes with any deep breaking route if the defense sinks its underneath zones.

Defensive Reads

Check linebacker depth at the snap since shallow zone drops from Mike or Sam linebackers will sit directly on the stick route and bait a turnover if the quarterback stares it down too long. Watch the flat defender, usually a corner or safety in zone, because if he widens to cover the flat the stick window opens up immediately for an easy completion. Identify Cover 3 by reading a single deep safety with corners rolled into deep thirds, this leaves the stick and flat combo wide open in the intermediate zone. Man coverage with a linebacker matched on the H receiver is where this play struggles most, especially if there is a lurking safety ready to jump the stick route, so be ready to check down or hot route out of it. Watch for user blitzes off the edge or a nano blitz look since the quick stick read gets the ball out fast, but a delayed A gap blitz can still collapse the pocket before the first read clears.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a shift to confirm whether the defense is playing man or zone before the snap since the stick route settles into space against zone but needs a hard out or in cut against man coverage. Look for two high safeties to confirm Cover 2 or Cover 4, which invites an easy stick to flat progression underneath the corners. Hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or slant if you see man coverage with no help over the top, giving yourself a second quick throwing option beside the stick. This play works best on second and short to medium yardage where the underneath sit routes can move the chains without needing a big explosive gain. Pair Mtn H Stick with Mtn HB Swing or WR Screen in the same set to keep linebackers honest, then hit the stick concept once they start jumping the screens.

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