Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Stick out of Singleback Bunch TE lines up three receivers tight to the formation with a fourth receiver isolated wide. From the bunch, one receiver runs a corner route to the flag, one sits down on a quick stick route to the flat, and the third works vertically up the seam before breaking outward. The blue receiver runs a whip route back across the middle from depth, while the RB stays in to pass protect. This is a classic zone beater built to stress the flat, curl, and corner zones with a triangle read on one side of the field, and the primary progression starts with the flat sit route before working up to the corner and finally the deep vertical breaker.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender at the snap, if he widens with the corner route the stick route sits in soft grass underneath for an easy completion. Against cover 3, the curl to flat defender is stretched between the stick and corner routes, forcing a leverage decision that opens one of the two. Man coverage with a underneath linebacker spy can jump the stick route early, so be ready to climb the ladder to the corner route or the whip route working back across the field. Look for a user controlled defender lurking in the shallow flat or curl zone, since Stick's underneath routes are vulnerable if the defense sits a rat in the throwing lane. Disguised blitzes with late rotation to man coverage can take away the stick route entirely, so check the isolated receiver's route for a hot beater if the protection breaks down.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify if the defense is showing zone or man since Stick punishes cover 2 and cover 3 shells that leave the flat and curl zones stretched thin.
Key on the flat defender first, if he sits on the stick route hit the corner behind him for a bigger gain.
Use motion or a hot route on the isolated receiver to create a two way go if you see man coverage with no help over the top.
This play is best on third and short to third and medium since the stick route provides a reliable underneath conversion option.
Pair Stick with Verticals or PA Boot from the same set to keep defenses honest, forcing them to respect both the quick underneath game and the deep shot off similar formation looks.
