Community Playbook

Empty Stick spreads the defense by aligning with no running back in the backfield, creating favorable passing matchups and forcing defenders to declare their coverage. The core Stick concept features a quick stick route paired with a flat or swing route, giving the quarterback a simple high-low read while outside receivers provide vertical or complementary routes to stretch the defense. It's a staple quick-game concept effective against both man and zone coverage.

The Stick Nod is a double-move variation of the classic Stick concept designed to exploit aggressive defenders. The inside receiver initially sells the short stick route before breaking vertically upfield, while complementary routes occupy underneath defenders and create space over the top. It's an effective answer against defenses that anticipate quick game concepts or linebackers who drive downhill on the initial stick break.

This shotgun Snag concept attacks the right side of the field with a high-low stretch. The outside receiver settles on a snag (sit) route while the tight end breaks to the corner, forcing the flat defender and deep coverage to choose. The running back releases to the right flat as the immediate outlet. On the backside, the outside receiver runs a go route to clear the coverage while the slot receiver runs an out route as a secondary option.

Read the snag concept first: corner, snag, then flat. If the defense rotates away or takes away the primary read, work back to the out route on the left.

Hook Concept (Wheel Stop from the inside man and 12 back to 10 yard snag route from the outside) from the farthest outside and farthest inside men with the middle guy in the trips running a curl as a checkdown. Ricky pass coverage (Ricky=rollout right). X dig on the backside to flood any middle safety's zone or such as a backside cover 2 safety. Could possibly sit the Dig down in open grass in the middle of the field against any zone. Play works against cover 2 or man.

Mesh with backside 10-yard out and RB leak.
Creates horizontal traffic underneath (mesh), a sideline outlet (out), and a delayed vertical from the back.

Core: Mesh (X + Y shallow cross)
Backside WR: 10-yard out (timing / sideline throw)
RB: Delayed leak upfield (late explosive option)

Trips Flood Wheel builds on the traditional Flood concept by replacing the flat route with a wheel, creating an explosive vertical threat after the defense expands underneath. The concept still creates a three-level stretch while adding pressure on safeties and sideline defenders.

Empty Stick spreads the defense by aligning with no running back in the backfield, creating favorable passing matchups and forcing defenders to declare their coverage. The core Stick concept features a quick stick route paired with a flat or swing route, giving the quarterback a simple high-low read while outside receivers provide vertical or complementary routes to stretch the defense. It's a staple quick-game concept effective against both man and zone coverage.

Hook Concept (Wheel Stop from the inside man and 12 back to 10 yard snag route from the outside) from the farthest outside and farthest inside men with the middle guy in the trips running a curl as a checkdown. Ricky pass coverage (Ricky=rollout right). X dig on the backside to flood any middle safety's zone or such as a backside cover 2 safety. Could possibly sit the Dig down in open grass in the middle of the field against any zone. Play works against cover 2 or man.

Trips Flood Wheel builds on the traditional Flood concept by replacing the flat route with a wheel, creating an explosive vertical threat after the defense expands underneath. The concept still creates a three-level stretch while adding pressure on safeties and sideline defenders.