Y Stick HB Angle

Identify the coverage shell pre-snap by checking safety depth, a two high shell often signals zone coverage where the stick route sits in a soft window, while a single high safety can indicate man coverage or a blitz package that opens up the angle route against a blitzing linebacker. Watch the flat defender or nickel corner at the snap, if he widens with the outside route the stick becomes an easy completion, if he sits inside the angle route to the running back becomes the primary target. Key the middle linebacker depth and reaction to the play action or run fake, aggressive linebackers who crash downhill leave the angle route wide open for a big gain after the catch. This play struggles against disciplined zone defenses that use a robber or lurk defender sitting in the shallow middle zone to jump both the stick and angle routes, so be ready to check to the deeper outside route if you see a defender sitting in that window. Cover 3 with a hard corner squeezing the flat can take away the stick route entirely, forcing the quarterback to trust the angle route or look to the backside of the concept.