Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Stick N Nod is a trips-based Stick concept out of Shotgun Wing Trips Wk Nasty. To the trips side, the outside receiver runs a deep dig across the middle, the slot runs the classic stick nod (a short hitch that nods vertical before settling), and the inside receiver clears out on a flat route. The backside tight end/wing runs a corner route up the sideline while a lone receiver on the opposite side runs an outside breaking comeback. It is a man beater built around the stick nod deceiving off-man defenders, and the primary progression starts with the stick nod, works to the flat if the underneath defender jumps it, then climbs to the deep dig and finally the backside corner as a big play outlet.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing man coverage with the slot corner pressed, since the stick nod is designed to manipulate exactly that alignment. Watch the underneath linebacker or nickel defender responsible for the stick area, if he sits and reads the quarterback's eyes he can undercut the nod and jump the throw. Cover 3 and Cover 4 zone shells with a deep half or deep third safety can take away the backside corner route, forcing the quarterback to work the stick nod and flat combo underneath. Watch for a user controlled lurk defender sitting in the shallow middle zone, he can jump the deep dig route if the quarterback stares it down too long. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the backside edge threaten the quarterback before the deep dig or corner route develops, so protection slide adjustments matter against nano blitz looks.
Usage Tips
Use this in third and short to third and medium situations where the stick nod's built-in double move can bait an aggressive underneath defender into a pass interference or missed tackle situation.
Check the slot cornerback or nickel pre-snap, if he is playing tight man coverage the stick nod will freeze him and create instant separation.
Hot route the flat defender's man to a shallow drag if you see zone drops sinking under the stick, this opens a natural void for the nod.
Pair this play with Stick from the same set to keep defenders guessing, since the stick nod adds a vertical wrinkle that punishes defenders who jumped the flat on the standard Stick concept.
Against zone heavy defenses, prioritize the deep dig on the trips side since it works through the intermediate voids created by the stick nod pulling linebackers up.
