Playbooks

Stick Nod Vertical

Singleback·Wing Tight·13
StickStick ConceptPass Play
Play diagram for Stick Nod Vertical from Singleback Wing Tight in Madden 27

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

Stick Nod Vertical lines up in Singleback Wing Tight with a wing attached to the line, an inline look at the top, and a receiver split wide left. At the snap the outside receiver runs a quick out that settles into a stick nod, the wing releases vertically up the seam as a nod route, the inline receiver at the top runs a wheel from the flat to the sideline vertical, and a shallow drag crosses underneath from the right side to the left. The tight end blocks off the line before working up the boundary on a vertical stem, giving this the classic Stick concept horizontal stretch combined with a vertical wheel shot, making it a strong man and zone beater with the shallow drag as the built in checkdown against pressure.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flat defender at the snap, if he sinks under the stick nod the QB should immediately look to the wheel route working up the sideline. Key the corner over the wing route, if he presses and does not carry the seam vertically the nod becomes an easy completion in man coverage. User the deep half or deep third defender toward the wheel side since that route is the biggest explosive play risk if left uncovered. Against Cover 3 sink the flat zone defender down to take away the drag, forcing the QB into a tighter window on the stick or wheel. Blitz heavy looks with man coverage behind them are vulnerable to the wheel route beating a linebacker in coverage, spy or bracket that route with a safety to shut it down.

Usage Tips

Presnap identify if the corner over the wheel route is playing outside leverage, since the wheel is your explosive shot if he bites on the flat fake.

Against zone shells with a single high safety, read the stick nod first since the flat defender and the seam defender both have to choose who to cover.

Use the shallow drag as your checkdown vs blitz heavy calls, it clears underneath and gives the QB a safety valve before the wheel fully develops.

Pair this play with PA Wheel Slide and PA Y-Drag Wheel from the same set so defenses cannot key on the wheel route tendency out of Wing Tight.

Best on second and medium or third and short to medium since the stick nod gives a quick access throw while the wheel stays live as a home run shot.

Other Plays in Wing Tight