Playbooks

Four Verticals

Pistol·Doubles Y Off·11

Four Verts Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 3 Beater

Play diagram for Four Verticals from Pistol Doubles Y Off in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

SetDoubles Y Off

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 3 playbooks

Air Raid OffenseOffense Pistol OffenseOffense Superstar QB Scrambler

Breakdown

Four Verticals out of Pistol Doubles Y Off sends both outside receivers and the slot/TE vertically up the seams and sideline while the fifth receiver on the left runs a shorter option/hitch route underneath as a check down. The backfield stays in to pass protect, giving the quarterback a clean pocket to survey the four vertical stems stretching the entire width of the field. This is a classic zone beater designed to attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 by overloading the deep safeties, and the primary read progression starts with the seam route from the TE (working the hole between the safeties), then works outside to the boundary vertical based on which safety flows away from the numbers.

Defensive Reads

Watch for two deep safeties pre-snap, this signals Cover 2 and tells you the seams will be the biggest voids between the corners and safeties. Single high safety alignment means Cover 3 is likely, read the safety's rotation post-snap and throw opposite his leverage. If a linebacker or nickel corner sits in a deep zone drop instead of blitzing, expect a robber or Tampa 2 look that can jump the inside seam, so be ready to work outside instead. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the vertical stems, but disguised zone blitzes with five or six rushers can collapse the pocket before routes fully develop. Key the underneath linebackers, if they sink deep quickly it usually means Cover 4 or Cover 6, which takes away the seams and forces you to check down to the shallow option route.

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment before the snap, two deep safeties split wide is a green light since the inside seams will split the coverage.

If you see single high Cover 3, target the seam route away from the free safety's leverage since he can only erase one vertical threat.

Hot route the shallow option route into a quick out or drag if the defense shows blitz, this gives the quarterback a fast answer against pressure looks.

Pair this play with Slants or PA Cross earlier in a series so the defense respects the short passing game, then hit Four Verticals to punish safeties creeping into the box.

Best called on second or third and medium when you have time in the pocket, avoid this on third and long against exotic pressure since it takes a beat to develop.