Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Jags Stick HB Circle out of Shotgun Trey Open lines up three receivers to the trips side with the TE running a stick route to the flat, the outside receiver running a corner breaking route, and the middle trips receiver working an inside stick/hitch off the same landmark, while the backside X runs a deep dig from the boundary. The HB releases out of the backfield on a circle route underneath, giving the QB a built-in checkdown against blitz or aggressive underneath coverage. This is a classic stick concept, a strong zone beater against Cover 3 and Cover 4 because it stresses the flat defender and hook defender with three quick options at different levels, and the primary read progresses from the corner route to the stick to the HB circle in the flat.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender post snap, if he sits on the TE stick route the corner route behind him should be open for a chunk gain. Key the hook or curl defender, if he drops deep to take away the corner route the stick route underneath becomes the quick answer. Against Cover 3, the stick concept overloads the strong side flat and hook zones, making this an efficient conversion play on early downs. Against man coverage or Cover 1 with a robber, the HB circle route can get picked off by a lurking linebacker, so check the middle of the field before checking down. If the defense shows a two high shell with press corners, expect the corner route to be contested, and the backside X dig against single coverage becomes the better vertical option.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify whether the trips side is getting a single high or two high shell, since the stick concept eats Cover 3 defenders who cannot cover the flat, the hook, and the corner all at once.
If you see man coverage with no underneath help, hot route the backside X dig into a slant or speed out to create a quicker, more reliable throw against man beaters.
Use the HB circle route as your answer against nano blitzes or delayed pressure, since it releases quickly and gives the QB a safety valve before the pocket collapses.
This play works best on second and short to medium or on first down to stay ahead of the chains, since the stick concept is designed for efficient gains rather than explosive plays.
Pair this call with Y Stick HB Angle or Air Raid Stick in the same set to keep the defense guessing on which route running back gets the ball out of the backfield, forcing linebackers to hesitate on their flat and hook drops.
