Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Stick out of Shotgun Y Trips Wk lines up with a trips side to the right and a single receiver plus TE to the left. The left boundary WR runs a deep comeback while the TE underneath breaks outside on a quick out route, creating a natural high-low read against that corner. On the trips side the outside WR runs a vertical seam/go, the middle slot runs a quick out, and the inside slot sits down on the stick route as the built-in hot and man beater against off coverage or blitz. This is a classic Stick concept, a zone and man beater designed for quick access throws, with the primary read starting at the stick route from the inside trips receiver before working to the flat out and then the comeback on the backside.
Defensive Reads
Watch the slot corner or nickel over the trips stick receiver, if he sits at five yards in press or bail technique expect man coverage and prioritize the stick route. Key the flat defender on the trips side, a linebacker who widens quickly to the flat route signals zone drops and opens the stick route behind him. On the backside, watch the cornerback over the single WR, if he plays soft off coverage the comeback route will be there right at the sticks. Identify overload blitzes from the trips side presnap, since Stick's quick game can beat pressure but a delayed hot route read gets punished by a well timed nano blitz. Look for a user controlled linebacker spying the middle of the field, as a rover or lurk defender can jump the stick route and bait a costly interception if the quarterback locks on too early.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify if the defense is showing zone or man by checking linebacker depth and slot corner leverage over the inside trips receiver.
Against off man coverage, throw the stick route quickly since it settles in the void and is nearly impossible for a trailing defender to undercut.
Against zone coverage such as Cover 3 or Cover 2, look to the flat route or the backside comeback since those attack the natural seams vacated by underneath zone defenders.
Use hot route adjustments to convert the trips seam into a skinny post if you diagnose Cover 3 presnap, giving you an explosive shot play off the same concept.
Pair Stick with Four Verticals or PA Y-Out from this same set to keep linebackers honest and prevent them from sitting on the quick game reads.
