Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Stick out of Weak I H Close Off is a classic Stick concept pass play with a 21 personnel look, giving you two backs and a tight end to sell run action before the drop. From the diagram, the outside receiver runs a deep drag across the field, the inside receiver next to him sits down on a quick stick/curl at the sticks, and the tight end (red route) runs a quick out breaking to the flat while the far outside receiver runs a shallow out toward the sideline. This is a classic man and zone beater built on quick, high percentage throws, with the stick route as the primary read against zone and the flat/out combo giving you a quick answer versus man coverage.
Defensive Reads
Read the linebacker depth pre-snap, since shallow zone drops signal the stick route will be covered and you should look to the flat route instead. Watch for user controlled defenders sitting in the middle of the field, since they can jump the stick route and bait a turnover if you force the throw. Check corner alignment before the snap, since tight man coverage on the outside receivers opens up the deep drag as a big play option against man beaters. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells, since these zone coverages leave the stick route open in the void between the linebackers and safeties. Look for blitz packages with five or more rushers, since Stick's quick game routes are designed to beat pressure but only if you get the ball out before the pocket collapses.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs or third and short since the routes are designed to get the ball out fast and pick up manageable yardage.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing zone or man by checking linebacker depth and corner alignment, since the stick route sits down in soft zones for an easy completion.
Hot route the backside shallow out into a deeper comeback if you see cornerbacks playing off man technique, forcing them to defend two levels at once.
Combine this with PA Power O or HB Gut from the same set to keep defenses honest, since Stick punishes teams that key on run action out of Weak I personnel.
Against blitz-heavy defenses, get the ball out to the flat route quickly, since the tight end route is your built in answer to five and six man rushes.
