Setting up the Stick Concept with Tagged Post

Stick passing Concept

The stick concept is one of my favorite concepts. It is good versus most coverages. One of the first screens I install usually is the swing screen to the RB. Very good and inexpensive/easy screen to install. Gives one of your best athletes the ball in space. Usually you will have a one on one with the safety. The swing pass is complementary to the Stick concept because it is the same exact route the RB runs. Because of this, Stick is the first passing concept that I install.

Stick is much like the swing screen, it is easy to install and you can run mirrored routes. Having mirrored routes is great because you can check to which side you want to pass to. The RB’s route is the only thing that changes and that is to the right or to the left. You can run it out of many formations which is great compliment to your run/pass game. The main route is the “stick”. The land mark can vary but I like it about 2 yards outside the hash and about 8-7 yards depth. It’s just far enough past the OLB and not deep enough reach the safety. But it is deep enough to make the safety question if he should guard it.

The first read for the QB is the OLB. If the OLB triggers to cover the RB, then the stick route is open. If the OLB sits and the DB takes RB than you are looking to pass to the Z running the fade in the honey hole before the Safety gets there.

Now how will you set up the stick concept? When you throw the screen enough times the OLB will start going straight to the RB. Also, when your slot receiver starts whiffing the block on the OLB, then you know it’s time to start running the stick route. Coaching points for the QB: Set feet and separate your hand from the ball, ball goes back like he is about to throw the screen, eyes looking right at the RB. You do not have to pump fake. Once the OLB and the DB see the QB hands separate from the ball they will trigger on the RB. Stick route should be wide open.

Once you start throwing the stick the MLB might be pushing out there to cover it. This is the reason why I like the land mark for the stick route to be a little bit outside the hash to make enough space for the MLB to not get there in time.

Below are 2 illustrations vs a cover 2 look. First illustration is the swing screen. The second illustration is the stick concept.

So when you start completing the swing screen and they start stopping it. Then you start running the stick concept. You complete the stick route because the OLB is triggering to the RB. Sometimes the OLB starts squatting on the stick and you complete to the RB. DB starts going to the RB and you complete the fade to the X or Z wr.

What if you start to see is the Safety jumping the stick route? When this happens you TAG POST. This makes a big hole in the MOFO (Middle of Field Open). Safety starts doing this, run a post right behind him for the home run ball. Very easy TAG to make and very effective. You don’t have to tag it a lot. Only when you see the safety jumping the stick do you tag it. This will make for a very easy read for the QB and a big play for the offense and maybe even an easy 6 points.

Stick is very complimentary passing concept. Multiple tags that you can have for adjustments. It could be most of your passing game because you have a 2 hot routes built in with the RB on the swing route and the slot running the stick. You have a third level/ long pass with the fade or post when tagged. You use the screen to set up the stick concept. You complete the stick route to make the safety jump it to set up the post for the homerun ball.

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