Playbooks
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Double Stick runs a duplicated Stick concept to both sides out of Shotgun Wing Slot Offset with 12 personnel, giving the quarterback a mirrored read on either half of the field. Each side features a flat route, a short out or slant breaking underneath, and a stick route sitting down around 5 to 6 yards, creating instant triangle stretches on flat defenders and underneath zone droppers. This is a zone beater first and foremost, since the Stick concept is designed to sit in the soft spots of Curl-Flat and Cover 3 zones, but it also holds up against man coverage because the natural spacing forces defenders to choose between the flat and the stick route. The primary read progression starts with the playside stick to flat combo, then works backside if the first read is capped.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defenders first, since Double Stick is built to attack whichever curl flat player has to choose between the stick route sitting down and the receiver releasing to the flat. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, because if the underneath linebackers sink hard into the stick zones, that opens the flat throw immediately for a easy completion. Against Cover 3, look for the curl to flat defender to widen with the flat route, which leaves a throwing window for the stick route working back to the middle. If the defense shows a hard blitz with man coverage behind it, user a linebacker or slot defender to jump the stick route since that is the route most quarterbacks key on first. This concept struggles against a disciplined Cover 4 or Cover 6 shell with underneath defenders sitting on stick routes, so if you see safeties rotating down and linebackers staying square, expect the quick game to be taken away and force a checkdown.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing a two high shell or single high look, since Double Stick punishes Cover 2 and Cover 3 defenses that leave the flat and stick zones conflicted. If you see man coverage with no safety help underneath, hot route one of the flat routes into a quick out or speed out to create separation against a trailing corner or linebacker. On third and short or third and medium, this play is a great call because it gives you two identical reads and lets you throw off leverage without needing a deep progression. Pair this with Double Cross or Mesh Spot later in a drive so the defense has to respect crossing traffic in addition to the quick stick reads, which opens up double moves off the same formation look. Against teams that like to bring pressure, use the backside stick as a checkdown outlet since the route sits down quickly and gives the quarterback a safe throw versus the blitz.
