Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Stick out of Shotgun Wing Trio 11 personnel shows a five man route concept built to attack both zone and man coverage. To the left the X runs an out and up, breaking outside then vertically stemming up the sideline as a clear out or shot route. On the right side the Y and slot run the classic stick combo: one receiver settles into a shallow flat/hitch while the other climbs vertically then breaks flat, creating a natural pick and separation window against underneath zone defenders. The lone inline blocker and running back stay in to protect, with the RB releasing check release into a flat/curl option if the pocket holds. Primary progression starts with the stick combo (flat/curl to speed out) on the closed side, then works back to the vertical shot route on the boundary if the safety bites underneath.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high shell, since Stick thrives against soft two deep zones with passive linebackers. Watch the flat defender and curl/hook defender post-snap: if they sink too deep or widen too fast, the stick combo opens up immediately underneath. Beware disguised Cover 3 sink calls where the corner drops into the deep third late, since that can jump the vertical route on the outside if the QB doesn't recognize the rotation. Man coverage with an aggressive blitz package can be problematic if the RB and TE fail to pick up extra rushers, so check protection and lurk threats near the line before committing to a deep read. If the defense shows a Cover 4 or Cover 6 shell with corners playing outside leverage, expect the underneath stick routes to be the primary answer since the deep coverage will squeeze the vertical route.
Usage Tips
Use Stick on 2nd or 3rd and short to medium since the stick combo creates instant separation against Cover 2 and Cover 3 zone drops.
Check the flat defender before the snap: if he sits wide, hot route the shallow stick route into a quick out for an easy conversion throw.
Against man coverage, key the vertical route on the left as your outlet since the out and up is designed to shake off a jamming corner or aggressive nickel.
Pair this play with Y Flood or RPO Peek Y Pop in the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick horizontal stress and RPO reads out of the same formation look.
Use play action shot plays like PA X Corner afterward once the defense starts flowing hard on the stick concept, since that sets up the double move vertical shot off the same personnel and formation.
