to space and the QB throws to open space. So the offense takes what the defense gives them as it is a checkdown route. If the defender went to the sticks, he would not be open.
That route will sometimes get the first down when the WR can drive the defender back far enough to get space and run his route to the sticks and other times it does not work when the defender stands his ground.....the problem is that the opposition knows the route because we run it ALL the time on third down. It is a fine route but we need to mix it up.