Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 12 playbooks
Breakdown
Y Stick out of Singleback Wing Tight Z is a classic spacing concept built to attack zone coverage with quick, high percentage throws. The diagram shows the Y (tight end) running a stick route to the flat area with a hitch, the outside receiver to that side running a quick out, and the backside X receiver running a deep vertical to clear space and hold the safety. The HB releases out of the backfield on a corner route from the opposite side, giving the quarterback a five step drop progression that reads flat to stick to corner. This is a zone beater at its core, designed to exploit the natural spacing voids in Cover 2, Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with a rhythm based, get it out fast passing concept.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, check safety depth and cornerback alignment, if the corners are sitting at five to seven yards off the line expect zone coverage that this concept is designed to punish. Post snap, key the flat defender's drop, if he widens with the stick route the quarterback should climb the ladder to the corner route or the deep vertical clearing route. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the shallow zone or spying the stick route, this is the most common way competitive opponents take away the primary read. Man coverage with press corners and a single high safety is the toughest shell for this concept since the routes lack immediate separation leverage, expect this against Cover 1 or Cover 0 blitz packages. Look for linebackers blitzing off the edge or up the middle, since this route concept relies on a quick, timing based drop, a well timed blitz can disrupt the rhythm before routes develop.
Usage Tips
Use this play on third and short to third and medium when you need a high percentage conversion route with built in answers to zone drops.
Read the flat defender first, if he sits and takes away the stick route throw underneath to the shallow route working to the boundary.
Against Cover 3 look immediately to the stick route sitting in the honey hole between the curl and flat defenders for an easy completion.
Hot route the backside vertical into a slant or drag against man coverage if you diagnose Cover 1 or Cover 0 pre snap to get a faster access throw.
Pair this play with 26 Duo or HB Inside Zone in your play calling sequence to keep the defense honest on run downs, then come back to Y Stick when they start cheating linebackers into the box.
