Playbooks

Dragon Stick

Shotgun·Trips HB Wk·10
StickStick ConceptPass PlayFlatOutSlantStreak
Play diagram for Dragon Stick from Shotgun Trips HB Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 4 playbooks

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Receiver routes

Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.

See this play with a team's players
PlayerSideRoute
HB1LeftFlat
SLWRRightStick Option
WR1LeftSlant
WR2RightStreak
SLWR2RightOut

Read progression

  1. SLWR right, Stick Option
  2. WR2 right, Streak or SLWR2 right, Out
  3. WR1 left, Slant
  4. HB1 left, FlatCheck-down

Breakdown

Dragon Stick is a trips-side stick concept out of Shotgun Trips HB Wk with a lone backside receiver on a deep comeback. From trips, the inside slot runs a quick stick/hitch, the outside receiver on that side breaks off a corner route back across the middle, and the third trips receiver runs a shallow drag underneath, while the backside X runs a comeback route to occupy the boundary corner. This is a classic man beater and zone beater hybrid, since the stick concept picks apart underneath zone drops while the crossing corner route creates natural rub separation against man coverage. The primary read progression starts with the stick/flat combo on the trips side (hitch to drag), then works to the corner route breaking over the middle, with the backside comeback as a late-window checkdown against soft coverage.

Defensive Reads

Read the underneath linebackers and nickel defender pre-snap to see if they are sitting in zone drops that could jump the stick or drag routes. Watch the boundary cornerback depth against the backside comeback route, since a corner playing tight man or bailing into a deep zone will determine if that route is even open late. Post-snap, look for a user controlled linebacker sitting in the shallow zone or lurking near the drag route, since that defender can bait a quarterback into a costly interception. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with deep zone drops tend to give up the underneath stick and flat combo consistently, while press man coverage funnels the completion toward the deep corner route. Watch for a nickel or slot blitz off the trips side, since the quick stick route needs to come out immediately to beat that pressure before it collapses the pocket.

Usage Tips

Use this play on second or third and medium when you need a quick, high percentage completion against both man and zone shells.

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high look, since the stick concept underneath is money against zone drops with soft cushions.

If you see man coverage on the trips side, hot route the shallow drag into a shoot or drag deeper across the field to create more separation off the natural traffic near the formation.

Pair this with Deep Stick or Curls from the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick game and intermediate stick concepts, since the alignment looks nearly identical pre-snap.

Against aggressive blitz looks, get the ball out fast to the stick or flat route since the backside comeback takes longer to develop and is vulnerable to a fast four man rush.

Other Plays in Trips HB Wk