Stick out of Singleback Bunch TE puts three receivers tight to the formation with a classic Stick concept on that side: the outermost yellow route sits down for a quick out, the inner bunch receiver runs a flat/corner route vertically up the seam, and the third bunch man works an underneath option route. The backside receiver runs an isolated deep vertical up the sideline to hold the corner and safety, while the blue route from the slot works a quick out/flat breaking away from the formation. This is a man beater built on natural rub picks from the bunch alignment, with the stick concept underneath giving you a high-low read against zone drops as well. Primary read starts with the flat/out route breaking away from traffic, then progresses to the seam sit route in the bunch before checking the backside vertical if the defense rotates away.

Defensive Reads

Check the slot defender over the bunch presnap, if he is playing outside leverage he is jumping the flat and daring you to throw the seam sit route Watch for a linebacker cheating into the passing lane behind the bunch, this is a common user lurk spot designed to jump the stick or option route Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells the underneath stick window shrinks fast, so key the flat defender's first two steps to decide between the flat throw and the seam sit If the defense shows blitz with a nickel or slot corner crashing off the edge, get the ball out quick to the flat route since the protection may not account for a fifth rusher Man coverage with no safety help over the top opens up the backside isolated vertical route as a big play answer if the corner presses without deep support

Usage Tips

Presnap identify whether the defense is showing man or zone by watching linebacker depth over the bunch, tight LB depth usually signals man coverage and a blitz risk

If you see Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells, hot route the backside vertical into a comeback or dig to give yourself an easier zone beater against deep zone drops

Use motion or shift the bunch presnap to see if defenders follow, this confirms man coverage and tells you to rely on the natural rub from the bunch releases

Pair this with Cross Drag or Switch Snag from the same set so the defense cannot key on the bunch stick look, keeping your play-calling unpredictable on early downs

Best used on third and short to third and medium since the underneath stick and flat combo gives you multiple high-percentage completions against both man and zone

Stick

Quick Reference

In 6 playbooks

Receiver routes

Read progression

Breakdown

Defensive Reads

Usage Tips

Other Plays in Bunch TE