Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Stick Double Slant lines up out of Shotgun Spread Y-Flex with 11 personnel, spreading three receivers to the left and one to the right with the RB in the backfield as a check release. The diagram shows both left side receivers running slants across the middle, the inline TE running a stick route with a quick out breaking underneath, and the lone right receiver stemming vertically before breaking into a corner route stacked with a shallow out from the flexed slot. This is a quick game man beater built on the stick concept, with the double slants giving the quarterback an immediate high low read against man coverage while the boundary stick and corner combo attack zone drops away from the play strength.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing a two high shell or single high safety, since single high often means more man coverage underneath which favors the slants. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, shallow linebackers will collision the stick route while deep drops open a throwing window for the slant combo. Beware user controlled defenders sitting in the shallow zone or lurking near the stick concept, they can jump the underneath throws if the quarterback stares down one route too long. Zone coverage with a Cover 3 sky safety over the top of the corner route can take away the deep shot but leaves the double slants uncovered underneath. Man coverage with inside leverage on the slot receivers is the biggest threat, since it can jam the release and disrupt the timing of both slant routes simultaneously.
Usage Tips
Read the flexed TE stick route first since it settles into the void against zone and separates quickly against man coverage on linebackers.
Use the double slants as your primary answer versus man to man, especially against Cover 1 or Cover 3 man where the underneath defenders have to open their hips.
Check the corner route on the backside if the defense rotates a safety down to help on the slants, since that leaves the deep half exposed for a one on one shot.
Pair this play with RPO Peek Slant and Y Stick from the same formation so the defense cannot key on personnel or formation tendencies.
Best called on second or third and short to medium yardage where the stick concept forces linebackers to declare quickly and the slants punish outside leverage.
