Playbooks
Stick Spacing
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Stick Spacing out of Shotgun Tight Slot Open runs the classic stick concept to the closed side while a deep crosser and swing route work the open side for horizontal stress. The backside receiver runs a deep drag across the field, the outside receiver on the stick side runs a corner/flag route, the slot runs a quick out, and the flanker sits down on a stick route while the running back releases into a swing/flat route underneath. This is a full field horizontal stretch designed as a Cover 3 and Cover 4 beater, and the primary read progression starts with the stick route in the flat area, works to the corner route over the top, and checks down to the swing route or crossing route based on the flow of the underneath defenders.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check for two deep safeties which signals Cover 4 or Cover 2, both of which struggle to defend the stick route sitting in the flat to hook zone conflict area. Watch the slot cornerback's alignment, if he is playing inside leverage he is likely sinking into a zone drop rather than manning up the quick out, opening a throwing lane underneath. Post-snap, key the flat defender's reaction to the swing route release, if he widens to cover the running back the stick route is uncontested behind him. User controlled defenders sitting in a shallow zone or lurking near the stick route will jump this route quickly, so be ready to work the deep crosser or corner route as a hot progression. Man coverage and aggressive blitz packages struggle against this concept because the natural spacing forces defenders to run through picks, so if you see man alignment pre-snap trust the leverage on the corner route or crosser for a big play.
Usage Tips
Identify the coverage shell before the snap by checking safety depth, if you see two high safeties expect Cover 4 and target the stick route since it sits in the honey hole against quarters defenders. Against Cover 3 look to the flat defender's leverage, if he widens with the swing route the stick route sitting behind him becomes wide open for an easy completion. Use the deep crosser as a home run shot against man coverage or if the defense rotates late into a single high shell, since it clears the middle of the field for the stick and out combo. This play pairs well with RPO Peek Slant and RPO Zone Peek in the same set since both plays attack downhill if linebackers bite on the stick concept, keeping the defense honest. Save this call for third and short to third and medium situations where the stick route's high completion percentage and the corner route's shot potential give you multiple answers versus different coverages.
