Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
TE Stick Fade out of Singleback Wing 12 personnel shows a wing TE on the near side running an out and up into a corner route, a slot TE running a quick stick route to the flat, an outside WR running a deep vertical to the sideline, and a shallow crosser working underneath from the backside. The lone RB stays in to protect against the interior rush. This is a man beater built off the classic stick concept, using the fade and vertical to stress cornerbacks on the outside while the stick and cross settle in the shallow to intermediate zones for a quick underneath answer. The primary read progression starts with the fade or vertical against single coverage on the outside, works down to the stick for a quick rhythm throw against off man or soft zone, and finishes with the backside crosser as a late checkdown if the pocket holds.
Defensive Reads
Watch the corner alignment on the fade side before the snap, since tight press man invites a back shoulder throw while soft cushion signals zone drop underneath. Key the flat defender or curl to flat linebacker after the snap, because he decides whether the stick route sits open or gets jumped by an underneath zone defender. If the safety rotates down pre-snap into the box, expect single high coverage and attack the fade route with a one on one matchup on the outside corner. User controlled lurk defenders sitting in the shallow crosser's window can bait a pick six, so read the crosser only if the underneath zone clears out. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender and quick corner drop is the main coverage that shuts this play down, forcing you to hold the ball and check to the backside crosser late.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, check if the corner over the fade route is playing tight man or bailing into a deep third, since this tells you whether the fade or the stick is the better shot.
If the defense shows two high safeties, lean on the stick route and shallow cross underneath rather than forcing the fade into a deep half defender.
Use the stick route as your rhythm throw on third and short, and save the fade for red zone or one on one shot plays when you have a size or speed mismatch outside.
Hot route the shallow crosser into a deeper dig or drag against zone heavy defenses to give yourself a second read that clears underneath linebackers.
Pair this play with TE Stick or Z Spot from the same set to keep the defense guessing between the vertical shot and the quick game, forcing them to declare coverage before you know your answer.
