The stick concept is arguably the simplest concept in
football. There are many variations of the concept that can be used out of
almost any formation. The basic theory of the play is to horizontally stretch a
defense, specifically the linebackers. The figure below diagrams the
traditional stick concept out of a trips formation. The quarterback reads the
flat defender, and throws either the out route or the stick route.
Oklahoma ran a unique version of stick against West Virginia
in 2015. The adjustment involves a switching of route responsibilities by the
two receivers farthest to the right. These receivers will switch their
landmarks, and run each other’s routes. The outside receiver will run a hitch
route, and the slot will run what many coaches refer to as a “Spray 9”, or a
“Spade” route. The play is diagrammed below.
The adjustment adds a few benefits to the play. First and
foremost, a deep threat has been added to the concept. In the typical version,
the fade route is merely a decoy. The throw is much too difficult for a
majority of high school, and even college quarterbacks. The spade route is an
easier throw, as the route takes longer to get to the same landmark. This
allows the quarterback to put a little bit of air on it, unlike a traditional
fade route to the wide side of the field.
Secondly, the quarterback now has an option against man
coverage. The original version struggles against man coverage and is widely
regarded as a zone beater. The video below shows Oklahoma hitting the spade
route against man coverage for a big play.
Making small adjustments to the most basic plays in football
can pay large dividends. All it takes is the creativity to put your players in
a better position to succeed.
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