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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Stick from the Strong I Pro (21 personnel) shows a five man route concept with the X receiver running an out breaking corner route from the backside, the TE at the line running a vertical seam that stems outward, the Y off the ball running an angled stick route to the flat, and the flanker on the strong side working a quick out into the flat while the far outside receiver clears vertically up the sideline. The running back stays in to pass protect, giving the quarterback a clean pocket to work through his reads. This is a classic zone beater built on stick concept spacing, and the primary read progression starts with the stick route in the middle of the field before working out to the flat and then up to the corner or vertical routes if the underneath windows are closed.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth: two high safeties usually means Cover 2 or Cover 4, which opens the corner route once the flat defender commits to the stick. Watch the flat defender's initial step after the snap, if he sinks with the stick route the flat is open for an easy pitch and catch. Man coverage shows press corners and linebackers shading toward the TE and RB, which means the stick route is not the primary answer since the underneath area is condensed. Be alert for a user controlled linebacker sitting on the stick route, this is the most common way defenses take away the primary read in competitive play. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge will pressure the RB in protection quickly, so get the ball out on rhythm to the stick or flat before the pocket collapses.
Usage Tips
Look for the stick route first since it settles into the soft spot of zone coverage between the underneath linebackers and the flat defender.
Use this against Cover 3 and Cover 2 zone shells since the stick and flat combo consistently creates a two on one horizontal stretch on the flat defender.
If the corner route is uncovered because of a Cover 2 shell where the safety bites on the stick, throw it immediately for a chunk gain over the top of the flat defender.
Pair this play with FB Dive or HB Dive from the same Strong I personnel to keep run and pass action looking identical pre-snap, which forces the defense to respect play-action later.
On third and medium, hot route the backside X to a quick slant if you diagnose man coverage pre-snap, since the corner route takes too long to develop against tight man technique.
