Playbooks

Stick

Shotgun·Trips·10
StickStick ConceptPass PlayFlatHitchSlantStreak
Play diagram for Stick from Shotgun Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 4 playbooks

Franchise College Spread OffenseOffenseFranchise HS Spread OffenseOffenseAir Raid OffenseOffenseSpread Classic

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
HB1RightPass Block
SLWRRightHitch
WR1LeftSlant
WR2RightStreak
SLWR2RightFlat

Read progression

  1. SLWR right, Hitch
  2. WR2 right, Streak or SLWR2 right, Flat
  3. WR1 left, Slant

Breakdown

Stick out of Shotgun Trips is a quick-hitting man and zone beater built on a three-level stick concept to the trips side, with the backside X running a comeback breakout route for a single-read outlet. The play design shows the trips number three receiver sticking underneath at a shallow depth, the number two receiver running a corner route vertically before breaking flat, and the outside X on the backside running a quick out to the sideline. This is a classic stick concept designed to attack zone defenses with a triangle stretch while giving the quarterback a fast progression from the flat to the stick to the corner.

Defensive Reads

Key the underneath linebackers immediately after the snap, since Stick punishes any defender who sits too deep or too shallow in the triangle read. Watch for a cornerback sitting in the flat pre-snap, which signals a zone shell that Stick is designed to exploit with the corner and stick combo. If you see man coverage with a linebacker mugged over the stick route, expect a nano blitz or user blitz timed to disrupt the quick game timing. Look for a safety rotating down into the box post-snap, which often means the defense is sending extra pressure and leaving the corner route vulnerable over the top. Cover 3 with aggressive underneath zone drops is the toughest matchup for this concept, since it can clog the stick and flat windows simultaneously.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing a two high shell or single high look, since stick concepts thrive against zone coverage that leaves the underneath triangle exposed.

Use the stick route as your first read against zone, then progress to the corner route if a linebacker sinks too deep and vacates the flat.

Hot route the backside X into a hitch or slant if you diagnose man coverage pre-snap, since the comeback route can be a hair too slow against tight man press.

Pair this play with 61 X Choice or FL Dig in your play-calling sequence to keep the defense guessing between quick game and intermediate breaking routes out of the same trips look.

Use Stick on third and short to medium distance situations where the stick and flat combo gives you a high-percentage completion window before the pocket collapses.

Other Plays in Trips