Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
Stick out of Shotgun Tight Slots is a classic Stick concept run to both sides of the formation, giving the quarterback a mirrored read with a flag route from the outside slot, a corner-breaking flat route from the inside receiver, and vertical stretch on the boundary. On the diagram, both outside receivers run deep go routes up the sideline while the two slot receivers work a stick combo underneath: one breaks outside on a quick out and the other angles up and outside on a flag route into the numbers. This is a zone beater at its core, using the stick and flat combination to sit in the soft spots of curl-flat and cover 3 zones, with the primary read starting on the flag route (the red route) and progressing to the mirrored side flat route if that window is closed.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defenders on both sides before the snap, since Stick exploits any zone defense that drops a linebacker or nickel corner into a shallow flat without help underneath. Cover 3 with aggressive flat drops is the biggest weakness for the offense here, as the stick route sits right in the window the flat defender vacates when he widens too quickly. Man coverage with no underneath help can shut this down fast if the defense presses the outside receivers and has a linebacker spy the stick route with inside leverage. Post snap, look for a user-controlled defender sitting in the shallow zone or lurking near the stick route, since that indicates a defender is baiting the quarterback into a pick six read. Blitz packages that bring five or six rushers put heavy pressure on the timing of this play, so if you see a nano blitz or overload pressure pre-snap, expect the quarterback to need a quick decision or a checkdown to the flat.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high look, since Stick punishes cover 2 and cover 3 zone shells that leave the flat and stick window open.
Key the flat defender on the side you plan to read first: if he sinks with the flag route, throw underneath to the stick or vice versa, and if he sits flat footed, take the go route on that same side.
Use hot routes to convert the flag route into a quick out against man coverage if you see press corners at the line, since the natural flag can get squeezed by a physical defender.
This play is best on second and medium to third and short, since the quick game timing lets you get the ball out before the pocket collapses against exotic pressure.
Pair this call with Bench or Curl Outs from the same set to keep the defense guessing between deep flood concepts and the quicker stick timing, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their zone drops.
