Stick out of Shotgun Trips HB Wk gives you the classic Stick concept on the trips side while the backside X runs an out and up (sit at the sticks then break vertical). The HB releases into a swing/wheel look off the weak side, and the lone inside receiver runs a corner route vertically up the seam with a flat route breaking underneath it, creating a natural high low on any flat defender. This is a zone beater first (it stresses hook and curl defenders in Cover 2 and Cover 3), but it also holds up against man thanks to the natural pick action from the stick combo, with the primary read progressing from the flat/corner stick combo on the trips side to the backside out and up if the defense sinks its underneath zone.

Defensive Reads

Key the flat defender on the trips side first, if he sits on the flat route the corner route window opens behind him for an easy pitch and catch. Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, a shallow drop signals Cover 3 and tells you to work the seam corner route immediately before the safety can rotate over. If the defense shows two deep safeties pre snap, expect the corner route to be capped, so plan to check down to the flat or backside out and up. User controlled defenders sitting in the shallow hook zone can jump the flat route, so if you see a user flashing toward the trips side pre snap, go backside immediately. Man coverage with no safety help over the top on the outside corner leaves the out and up route open once the corner turns his hips, this is your green light to attack deep.

Usage Tips

Look pre snap for two high shells because the corner route on the stick concept will sit down in the honey hole against Cover 2 if the flat defender jumps the underneath route.

Use the backside out and up as your answer versus aggressive corners playing press man, since it snaps vertical once the corner commits to jumping the out.

Hot route the HB to a flat release or wheel if you see a linebacker crashing the box on early down run blitz looks, this turns Stick into a built in checkdown against pressure.

This play pairs well with HB Off Tackle or Same Side Zone from the same formation, since the pre snap motion and personnel look identical and force the defense to respect run and pass equally.

Best called on second and medium or third and short, since the quick game timing of the stick concept gets the ball out before a delayed blitz can arrive.

Stick

Quick Reference

In 5 playbooks

Receiver routes

Read progression

Breakdown

Defensive Reads

Usage Tips

Other Plays in Trips HB Wk