Playbooks

Four Verticals

Pistol·Y Off Trips·11
Four VertsPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Four Verticals from Pistol Y Off Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

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Breakdown

Four Verticals out of Y Off Trips Pistol sends four receivers vertically up the field to stretch the defense from sideline to sideline. The two outside receivers on each side run straight seams up the numbers while the trips side slot runs a vertical seam and the inline TE releases on an inside seam before breaking to a corner route toward the boundary, with the HB staying in to check block out of the backfield. This is a classic zone beater that punishes Cover 2 and Cover 3 by overloading the deep safeties, with the primary read starting on the seam routes against the middle of the field before working to the corner breaking route as the outlet against squeeze coverage.

Defensive Reads

Identify two high safeties pre-snap, which signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 and tells you to attack the seams between the corner and safety. Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, since a shallow drop into the seam lane is a sign of Cover 3 with a robber or lurk defender sitting underneath. If the defense shows single high safety, key the corner route from the TE since that route attacks the void vacated by the rotating safety. Beware Cover 2 Man or press man concepts with a deep half safety, since this alignment can jump the outside seams if the user controls the flat defender into the throwing lane. Blitz-heavy zone pressure defeats this play quickly since there is no quick underneath answer, so recognize disguised blitzes by linebacker crowding the box before the snap.

Usage Tips

Check pre-snap for two high safeties before the snap, since this play is designed to attack the soft spots in Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells.

If you see Cover 3 with a single deep safety, target the seam route that splits the safety and the outside cornerback for a big play down the field.

Hot route the HB into a checkdown or swing route if you expect heavy pressure, since the play only has four receivers running vertical routes with no natural underneath outlet.

Use this play on second and long or third and long situations where you need explosive yardage and the defense is likely sitting in zone shells.

Pair this play with Posts Y Wheel or Mtn Seam Y Z-Choice from the same set to keep defenders honest, since both create similar vertical stress but attack different landmarks if the defense adjusts to take away the verts.

Other Plays in Y Off Trips