Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Stick N Nod runs out of Shotgun Y Off Trips with pre-snap motion from the backside receiver crossing to a flat route, creating a bunch look on the trips side. The trips receivers run a classic Stick concept: the outside receiver runs a vertical seam up the numbers, the middle receiver sits down on a short hook or nod route, and the inside receiver breaks out to the flat, while the running back releases opposite to the flat for a checkdown. This is a man beater and zone beater hybrid built off the Stick concept, with the primary read progression starting at the nod/hook route in the middle, then working to the flat, and finally the vertical seam if the defense bites on the shorter routes.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender at the snap, if he sinks under the flat route he is playing zone and the nod route becomes the primary window Key the safety over the trips side, if he rotates down pre-snap you are likely seeing Cover 3 or a robber look which opens the seam route behind him Check the motion defender closely, a defender running with the motion man across the formation signals man coverage and favors the seam and nod routes as your first options Look for a slot blitz or nano blitz off the trips side since the quick nod route can be used as a hot route answer against pressure This concept struggles against disciplined Cover 2 with a hard flat squat since both the nod and flat routes get taken away, forcing a tougher throw on the seam
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you are likely facing man coverage
Attack Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells by reading the nod route first since it settles in the soft spot between the underneath zones
Hot route the flat man into a quick out if you see a corner sitting low in zone to bait an easy pitch and catch
Pair this play with Deep Stick Out or Verticals Y Option in the same set to keep defenders honest on the seam versus the shorter Stick combo
Best used on second or third and short to medium since the quick nod and flat options give you a high floor conversion with the seam as a big play changeup
