Playbooks

Stick

Shotgun·Trips·10
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.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Stick out of Shotgun Trips is a classic zone beater built on quick, high percentage sticks routes that settle into the underneath windows against Cover 2 and Cover 3. The trips side runs a stick concept (flat, stick, and corner combo) while the backside single receiver runs a route that occupies the deep defender, giving the quarterback a horizontal stretch on the strong side. The primary read starts with the flat defender: if he sinks with the corner route the QB works the stick sitting in the hole, and if he jumps the stick the flat route is wide open underneath.

Defensive Reads

Key the flat defender first, if he widens to the corner route the window opens for the stick sitting underneath Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, a shallow drop signals Cover 3 sink and tells you to work the stick route immediately Cover 2 with a hard charging corner on the flat will bait you into the stick but leaves the corner route naked behind him, look for the safety rotation This concept struggles against disguised Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells where the flat defender and underneath zone defender both sit tight, forcing you to check down or scramble Man coverage with a blitz on the backside is the biggest threat since the single receiver route takes time to develop, get the ball out fast on the stick or flat before the pressure arrives

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a quick peek at the flat defender to identify if you are facing Cover 3 sink or Cover 2 hard corner before the snap

This play thrives on third and short to third and medium because the stick route settles right at the sticks for an easy conversion

Hot route the backside single receiver into a slant or drag if you see man coverage across the board to give yourself a quick man beater outlet

Pair this with Mtn Stick or RPO Peek Stick in the same set to keep the defense guessing between the standard stick read and a run pass option look off the same formation

Against zone heavy defenses, user the trips outside receiver on the corner route to layer the ball over the flat defender for an explosive gain if the safety bites on the stick

Other Plays in Trips