Playbooks
Stick out of Shotgun Wing Close Offset is a classic stick concept built to attack zone coverage with quick, high percentage throws underneath the sticks. The concept typically pairs a flat route with a stick/curl route from the same side to create a horizontal stretch on underneath defenders, while backside routes give you a hitch or dig option against man coverage. This is primarily a zone beater designed for a quick timing throw, and the primary read progression starts with the flat route defender to determine whether to work the flat or settle into the stick sitting behind him, before working backside if both are covered.
Presnap, identify the flat defender and the depth of the underneath linebackers since Stick is designed to stress a defender who has to choose between the flat and the stick route. Against Cover 3, look for the curl to flat defender since he is stretched horizontally and cannot cover both routes if you hit the correct timing. Against Cover 2, the corner sitting in the flat and the linebacker in the curl zone tend to feel this concept, so throwing to the stick before the linebacker gains depth is critical. Watch for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow zone or spying the stick route since aggressive Madden defenders will jump the stick if you telegraph the throw. This play struggles against a well timed Cover 4 match or a robber concept where a safety sinks into the stick window, so have a hot route or check down ready if you see the safety cheating down before the snap.
Presnap, check whether the defense is showing a two high or single high shell since Stick punishes zone drops that leave a soft spot between the flat and the sticks route. If you see man coverage indicators like DBs lined up tight with no cushion, hot route the backside receiver into a quick out or slant to give yourself a true man beater option. Use motion to identify if the defense is running man or zone by checking if a defender follows your slot receiver across the formation. This play is best called on third and short to third and medium since the stick route settles quickly and gives your quarterback a rhythm throw before pressure arrives. Sequence this play with Spacing and RPO Glance Slant from the same set so the defense has to respect both the quick underneath game and the RPO run action, keeping linebackers hesitant on run fits.