Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Y Stick Lion is a quick-hitting man and zone beater out of the Split Backs Slot formation with 21 personnel. The outside receiver runs a deep vertical seam route on the boundary, the slot receiver runs the classic stick route settling at the sticks, and the two backs release into flat routes underneath with one sitting short and the other releasing to the opposite flat as an outlet. The primary read progression starts with the stick route in front of any underneath zone defenders, works to the checkdown flat route if the stick is capped, and comes back to the vertical seam shot if the coverage rotates away from the numbers.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a single high safety presnap, which tells you the vertical seam route has a one on one matchup down the field against a cornerback or safety in the deep half. If the defense shows a 2 high shell, expect the flat and stick routes to be the primary targets since the seam will likely be capped by a safety rotating over the top. Key the middle linebacker's depth at the snap, since a shallow drop by him directly threatens the stick route and forces the quarterback to work to the flat route instead. Look for a user controlled defender sitting in a shallow zone or spying the stick route, which is a common lurk technique that can jump the route if the quarterback stares it down. Man coverage with a linebacker on the backside back is a green light for the flat route, since backs typically win releases against slower coverage defenders in phase.
Usage Tips
Presnap, identify if the defense is showing 2 high or single high safety before deciding whether to prioritize the seam shot or the stick route underneath.
Hot route the backside back into a quick flat or slant if you see man coverage with a linebacker matched up on him, since he can often win outside quickly against slower defenders.
This is a strong 3rd and short to 3rd and medium call because the stick route settles right at the sticks for an easy user throw with high completion percentage.
Pair this play with Curl Flat or Shallow Cross earlier in a drive to condition the defense into sitting on underneath zones, then hit the vertical seam route on Y Stick Lion for an explosive play once safeties bite up.
Use play action variants like PA Slide in the same set to keep the linebackers honest, which opens up the stick route even more against aggressive run blitz looks.
