Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 12 playbooks
Breakdown
Stick N Nod out of Shotgun Trey Open lines up three receivers to the trips side with a single receiver split left. The lone receiver runs a vertical seam up the numbers while the trips side runs a stick concept: the inside slot sits down on a stick route in the underneath zone, the outside trips receiver runs a quick out to the flat, and the tight end at the point of the trips bunch runs a nod (a hitch and go type stem that pushes vertical then works back to the middle of the field) into the intermediate area behind the linebackers. This is a man beater built on the stick concept's natural picks and leverage, with a primary read progression that starts on the stick sitting down against zone or breaking away from man, then works to the nod for a big play window over the middle if a linebacker or safety bites on the stick or flat.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and count defenders in the box, since a two high shell with soft corners invites the stick and out combo underneath while a single high shell tells you the nod has room to work behind the linebackers. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker's drop, since if he sinks hard on the stick route the nod will be wide open crossing behind him. Watch for user controlled defenders sitting in the shallow flat or hook zone, since a heads up user lurking the stick route can jump that throw and bait a turnover. Cover 3 with an active flat defender can take away the quick out and squeeze the stick, so be ready to climb the progression to the nod or the backside vertical route. Man coverage with no safety help over the trips side gets beaten badly by the natural traffic in the stick concept, so expect the stick or nod to come open quickly if you see man alignment and a blitz look pre-snap.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing zone or man on the trips side, since the stick concept's crossing action creates natural rubs that hurt man coverage badly.
If you see a single high safety with the corner over the point tight end playing outside leverage, prioritize the nod route immediately since it will have soft coverage working back inside.
Use this on early downs or third and short to medium, since the stick route is a built in checkdown that keeps you on schedule while the nod gives you an explosive shot if defenders jump the quick stuff.
Pair Stick N Nod with Y Stick HB Angle or Air Raid Stick in the same set so the defense cannot key on the nod route once they start cheating a linebacker underneath the stick.
Hot route the backside single receiver to a slant or dig if you are getting single coverage with no safety help, since the vertical seam can be replaced by a quicker access throw against man.
