Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Stick out of Singleback East (12 personnel) shows a three-level stick concept to the closed side with a vertical shot outside the numbers. The X receiver runs a corner-breaking out route from the boundary, the TE in the slot works a quick stick route sitting outside the hook zone, and the outside receiver on the open side climbs a vertical to stress the deep third. This is a classic man and zone beater built around timing, with the stick route as the primary read against zone and the vertical taking over versus man coverage or blitz looks.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender pre-snap, if he sits inside at the snap the stick route will be open in the void behind him. Key the curl to flat linebacker post-snap, if he widens with the flat route the stick sits down right behind him for an easy completion. Identify two high safeties before the snap, this usually signals zone coverage and opens up the stick and corner breaking routes underneath. Against man coverage, especially Cover 1 or Cover 0 looks, take the vertical route on the open side since it isolates the receiver against a single defender with no safety help over the top. Beware of a user controlled defender sitting in the stick window or lurking underneath, this can bait the quarterback into a costly interception if thrown without hesitation.
Usage Tips
Read the flat defender or curl to flat player pre-snap to decide between the stick route and the corner breaking route before the snap. If the defense shows single high safety look, prioritize the vertical route on the open side since man coverage is likely on the outside. Use hot route adjustments to convert the TE stick into a flat route if you see a nano blitz coming off the edge, giving quarterback a faster outlet. Pair this play with Y-dig Inside Hook or Dig Hi Lo in your play calling sequence, since both attack similar zone drops but stress different levels, forcing linebackers to guess. Best used on second and medium or third and short since the stick route settles in quickly and picks up positive yardage against a soft zone shell.
