Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Y Stick Heavy from Singleback Wing Pair shows a three-man route combo with the outside receiver running a corner route off the numbers, the wing TE releasing on a flat/arrow route into the boundary, and the slot TE running the stick route sitting at five yards while a lone receiver on the backside runs a vertical release up the seam. This is a classic Stick concept and functions as a zone beater, attacking the flat defender and hook defender with a high low read while the corner route occupies the deep defender. Primary progression starts with the stick route underneath, then works to the flat route if the hook defender sinks, and finally to the corner or backside vertical if the coverage rotates away from the boundary.
Defensive Reads
Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells before the snap since this concept is designed to punish zone coverage with the stick and flat combo. If the flat defender widens with the arrow route, the stick route will have a natural throwing lane behind him for an easy pitch and catch. Watch the hook defender's depth at the snap. A shallow drop signals he is sitting on the stick, so progress quickly to the corner route. Against Cover 2, the corner route can be undercut by the cornerback if he sinks with the deep half safety, so be ready to check down to the flat. Man coverage with underneath aggression on the stick route often means a blitz is coming, so account for the extra rusher and get the ball out on time.
Usage Tips
Use this play on third and short to third and medium since the stick route sits down quickly and gives you a built in conversion option against zone drops.
Pre snap, check the safety alignment. If you see two high safeties, expect the stick route to be open against a Curl Flat defender who has to respect the arrow route.
Against man coverage, hot route the stick runner to a slant or speed out to create separation instead of sitting stationary in a defender's face.
Pair this call with Y Stick or Mtn Spot Heavy from the same set to keep the defense guessing between full field stick reads and heavier protection concepts.
Watch for user controlled linebackers spying the stick route. If the user jumps the stick, immediately reset your eyes to the corner route on the boundary.
