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Stick

Shotgun·Trips TE Flex·11

Stick Stick Concept Pass Play

Play diagram for Stick from Shotgun Trips TE Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrips TE Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

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Breakdown

Stick out of Shotgun Trips TE Flex sends the backside X on a vertical release up the sideline while the trips side runs the classic stick concept: the flexed TE breaks off a quick out at the sticks, the slot runs a hard flat/corner angle underneath, and the inside trips receiver settles into a shallow curl to the flat. The HB stays in as a check release or blocker off the backfield with a vertical stem in protection. This is a quick game zone beater built to attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 hooks with a horizontal stretch, though it also holds up against man because the flat and corner routes create natural pick opportunities. Primary progression is TE out at the sticks first, then work down to the flat route underneath, with the backside vertical as a big play checkdown versus single high looks.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flat defender pre-snap, if a linebacker or nickel is sitting shallow near the line of scrimmage, the flat route is taken away and you must go immediately to the TE out. Key the corner over the flexed TE, if he is playing tight man or squatting hard on the out route, look to the backside vertical for a one on one shot. Zone defenses that roll a safety down to help on the trips side will crowd both the out and flat routes, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball and take the checkdown or scramble. User controlled lurk defenders sitting in the shallow zone can jump the flat route, so watch for that user peek before committing to the underneath throw. Man coverage with no deep safety help is where this play is most vulnerable to a big play, since the backside vertical becomes a legitimate deep shot rather than just a checkdown.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify whether the corner over the trips is playing off or bailing into zone, since the TE out route wins instantly against soft zone corners sitting at the sticks.

Use this on third and short to medium since the stick concept is designed to convert against Cover 2 and Cover 3 zone drops without needing a deep shot.

Hot route the backside X to a slant or drag if you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, turning this into a quick rhythm throw away from trips traffic.

Pair Stick with Verticals or Mtn Y Post from this same set to keep defenses honest, since both plays start with similar trips alignment but attack downfield instead of the quick stick window.

Against Cover 3, throw the flat route as your first read because underneath defenders in trips zone shells tend to widen for the TE out, leaving the shallow flat route wide open.