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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.

This shotgun Stick concept attacks the right side of the formation with a quick, high-percentage read. The tight end settles on a five-yard stick route while the inside receiver releases to the flat, forcing the flat defender to choose. The outside receiver runs a fade to clear the deep coverage and create space underneath. On the backside, the receiver runs a dig route as the secondary progression, while the running back releases to the left flat as the checkdown.

Read the stick concept first: if the flat defender widens, throw the stick; if he stays inside, throw the flat. If the primary read is covered, work back to the dig before checking down to the running back.

Mirrored Slant-Flat from the shotgun gives the quarterback the same read on either side of the formation. The outside receivers run slant routes while the slot receiver and tight end attack the flats. The running back initially presses toward the right tackle before settling underneath over the middle as a late checkdown.

Read the flat defender: if he widens with the flat route, throw the slant; if he stays inside, throw the flat. If both sides are covered, work down to the running back.

Mirrored Curl-Flat from the shotgun gives the quarterback the same read on either side of the formation. The outside receivers run curl routes while the slot receiver and tight end attack the flats. The running back initially presses toward the right tackle before settling underneath over the middle as a late checkdown.

Read the flat defender: if he widens, throw the curl; if he stays inside, throw the flat. If both sides are covered, work down to the running back.

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.

Flood Bootleg combines play-action movement with a three-level flood stretch, forcing defenders to flow with the run fake before defending layered routes across the sideline. The quarterback rolls outside with a simple deep-to-short progression and a built-in checkdown underneath.

Trips Flood stretches the defense across three levels on one side of the field, giving the quarterback a simple deep-to-short progression. The vertical route clears space deep, the out route attacks the intermediate sideline window, and the flat route provides an immediate underneath outlet.

A three-level vertical stretch flooding one side of the field with a deep, intermediate, and flat route to collapse zone defenders.

The bunch alignment creates natural leverage and delayed releases into the mesh point, making it difficult for defenders to sort assignments cleanly. The compressed formation increases traffic underneath while the RB rail/wheel route attacks vertically off the bunch action, stretching the defense horizontally and vertically at the same time.

The mesh crossers create immediate horizontal stress underneath while the outside receivers clear vertical space and widen coverage. Out of an empty formation, the concept spreads the defense across the full field and isolates underneath defenders in space.