Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 13 playbooks
Breakdown
Y Stick from Singleback Wing Slot 12 personnel shows a three level flat side concept with the outside receiver stopping at the stick around five yards and sitting down, the wing TE running underneath to the flat, and the backside receiver on a deep over route working across the field to the opposite sideline. The lone WR to the trips side runs a go route to clear vertical space and stretch the corner deep, while the offensive line shows straight drop back pass protection. This is a classic zone beater built to attack sink and curl flat defenders, and the primary read starts with the flat defender: if he widens with the wing route, throw the stick, if he sits on the stick, hit the flat.
Defensive Reads
Identify two deep safeties before the snap since this usually signals Cover 2 or Cover 4, both of which are vulnerable to the stick and flat combo underneath Watch the flat defender's first two steps after the snap, if he expands to the flat the stick window opens, if he sits inside the flat throw is live Look for a single high safety rotating late which often means Cover 3, forcing the quarterback to read the curl to flat defender's depth Man coverage with inside leverage on the wing TE can jump the flat route, so respect a user controlled linebacker sitting on that shallow crossing threat A disguised zone blitz with the flat defender crashing off the edge kills the quick game options, so check protection or hot route to a sight adjustment if you see extra defenders creeping toward the line
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a quick glance at the flat defender to identify if you are facing zone or man before the snap
Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells, read the flat defender and throw off his leverage between the stick route and the wing flat route
Against man coverage, hot route the backside over route into a quicker breaking option or check down to the wing since the stick concept alone struggles against tight man technique
Call this on third and short to medium since the stick route sits down in the sticks and gives a high percentage completion window
Pair Y Stick with PA Y Cross Flood or Four Verticals out of the same Wing Slot look to keep the defense honest and disguise your run action tendencies
