Playbooks

Stick N Nod

Shotgun·Trips Y-Flex·11

Stick Stick Concept Pass Play

Likely unavailable in the playbook builder

This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrips Y-Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Elites OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Stick N Nod is a quick game pass concept built off the Stick family out of the Trips Y-Flex formation in Shotgun. The trips side runs a stick combination (flat, slant/nod, and stick option) designed to attack underneath zone defenders and hold linebackers in space, while the backside receiver runs a nod or slant to occupy the corner. This is primarily a zone beater that punishes Cover 3 and Cover 4 zone drops, though the option route on the stick can convert into a man beater versus off man coverage. The primary read progression starts with the flat defender: if he widens with the flat route, work the stick option sitting in the void, then progress to the backside nod route if the underneath defenders collapse inside.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flat defender first since his leverage tells you whether the stick option sits or releases vertically. Cover 3 with a hard curl to flat player who widens immediately opens up the option route for an easy conversion. Cover 2 zone with an aggressive underneath linebacker jumping the stick route can bait a user into vacating the nod route on the backside, so track that release. Man coverage, especially Cover 1 or Cover 0, is more dangerous here since the stick option lacks the natural separation of a true option against a trailing defender, so be ready to hot route or check to the backside nod quickly. Blitz-heavy fronts with a nano blitz disguised pre-snap can collapse the pocket before the option route develops, so identify overloaded box counts and use the shorter drop or a quick flat throw as the outlet.

Usage Tips

Presnap, identify if the defense is showing a two high shell or single high look, since Stick N Nod thrives against zone shells with soft underneath coverage. Use motion or a quick glance at the flat defender to determine if he is sitting on the stick route or widening, which dictates your first read. Hot route the backside slot into a speed out or quick in if you are facing man coverage to give yourself a rhythm throw option away from trips. This play is best called on second and short to medium or third and short since the routes settle in quickly and the quarterback can get the ball out in under two seconds. Pair Stick N Nod with Four Verticals or Dagger PoCo from the same set so defenders that jump the stick concept get burned over the top on the next call. Sequencing this with HB Mid Draw or Read Option also keeps linebackers honest and slows down their reaction to the stick option route.