Playbooks

Y Stick

Shotgun·Spread Y-Flex·11

Stick Stick Concept Pass Play

Play diagram for Y Stick from Shotgun Spread Y-Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSpread Y-Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense Air Raid OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Y Stick out of Shotgun Spread Y-Flex sends the two outside receivers on the left up the field on quick outs while the inner slot runs a shallow out underneath, creating a natural high low read on that side. The tight end (marked with the number 1) runs the stick route, sitting down over the middle of the field in the void behind linebackers, while the backside receiver runs a deep vertical to hold the corner and safety. This is a classic zone beater built on the stick concept, using the TE as the primary read against Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells, with the outs serving as the secondary progression and the vertical as a window shot if the safety bites underneath.

Defensive Reads

Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits in a shallow zone drop the TE stick route will be covered and you should progress to the outs on the left. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 2 shells before the snap since this concept is designed to exploit the seam between the underneath zone defenders and the deep safeties. If the defense shows a two high safety look, expect the stick and out combo to be open in the intermediate zones but be wary of a robber defender sitting on the stick route. Man coverage with underneath help, such as Cover 1 with a spy or Cover 0 blitz, will jump the TE stick route quickly, so switch your primary read to the vertical route or check down before the sack. User controlled defenders who lurk in the shallow zone can jump the stick route and the out simultaneously, so watch for that user movement and be ready to climb the pocket or reset your eyes to the backside vertical.

Usage Tips

Key the middle linebacker and the strong side safety before the snap, if the MLB sits shallow or the safety rotates late the stick route from the TE will sit right in his zone drop for an easy conversion throw.

Use this on third and short to medium situations since the stick route settles quickly and gives you a high percentage completion versus zone drops.

If the defense shows man coverage pre snap, hot route the TE stick into a flat or option route since stick concepts are more of a zone beater and can get squeezed by tight man coverage underneath.

Pair this with Double Slants or Stick Double Slant from the same set so you can attack the same stick window with a quicker breaking concept if the defense adjusts its linebacker depth after seeing Y Stick on tape.

Hit the deep vertical route on the backside as a home run shot if the safety jumps the stick or the outs, since the corner will often be isolated with no help over the top versus single high looks.