Playbooks

Stick

Shotgun·Wing Trio·11

Stick Stick Concept Pass Play

Play diagram for Stick from Shotgun Wing Trio in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetWing Trio

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

Stick out of Shotgun Wing Trio (11 personnel) shows a classic Stick concept run to the closed side with a two man route combo away from it. To the field side, the outside receiver runs a corner/flag route while the inside slot works a quick stick route settling underneath, creating a high low stretch on the flat defender or curl/flat zone player. Backside, the isolated X receiver runs a deep dig that breaks across the middle, giving you a man beater option if he wins leverage. The center identifies the Mike with a red arrow protection call, sliding the offensive line to account for the interior blitz while the running back releases or checks down. Primary read progression starts with the stick to flag flood side, working the flat defender's leverage first before working back to the backside dig against man coverage.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety shells since single high often means man coverage underneath which favors the backside dig read. Watch the flat defender's depth at the snap, if he sits on the stick route the flag route behind him is open, if he bails with the flag the stick is open underneath. Look for a Mike linebacker walking up to show blitz, since the protection call with the red arrow indicates the center is already accounting for an interior rusher, so trust your protection and take the extra beat to let the dig develop. Cover 3 with a hard flat corner shuts down the flag route but opens a throwing lane on the stick, while cover 2 with aggressive corners jumping the stick can get beat over the top by the flag. User controlled defenders sitting in the shallow hook or curl zone are the biggest threat to the stick route, so if you see a user linebacker sinking into that area, work off it immediately to the dig or flag instead of forcing the stick throw.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a shift to confirm zone versus man before the snap since the stick to flag combo is a true zone beater that punishes cover 2 and cover 3 flat defenders who cannot cheat both routes. Against man coverage shift your first read to the backside dig, it is your best man beater because it crosses the field away from leverage. This play thrives on third and short to medium, anywhere from 3rd and 3 to 3rd and 6, because the stick route settles right at the sticks. Pair this play with PA All Curl or Dash Curl Flat later in a series since both show similar route stems and flat threats, forcing the defense to respect play action out of the same personnel and formation. If the defense starts jumping the stick route with a linebacker, hot route the flat defender's man to a corner route or call RPO Zone Peek from this same set to keep the defense honest.