Playbooks

Four Verticals Sl Out

Shotgun·5WR Trio·11
OutFour VertsPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 3 playbooks

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Breakdown

Four Verticals Sl Out is a five wide route concept out of Shotgun 5WR Trio that pairs the classic four verts shell with a slot receiver breaking to an out route instead of running straight up the seam. This variant is a zone beater built to attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 by stretching the deep safeties vertically while the out route sits down in the void created underneath the corner and in front of the safety. The primary read starts with the seams: work outside in on the vertical routes first, and if the safeties widen or the seams get clogged by a robber, come down to the out route as the checkdown against a soft zone drop.

Defensive Reads

Watch for two deep safeties holding their depth after the snap, this confirms Cover 2 and tells you the seam throw between the hash and the numbers is live before the safety can rotate over. Key the corner at the snap, if he sinks into a deep third instead of jumping the out route, that is Cover 3 and the vertical stem outside of him should separate quickly. Track the middle linebacker or any user controlled defender dropping into a deep middle lurk, since that defender can rob the inside seam and force you to reset to the out route. Recognize press man coverage on the outside receivers pre-snap, if corners are aligned tight with no safety help over the top, this play struggles against man beaters and you should audible to a play with option or pivot routes instead. Be alert for a Cover 2 or Tampa 2 blitz look where a linebacker drops into a deep hole zone, this defender specifically takes away the inside vertical and out route combo, so widen your eyes to the far side seam as the answer.

Usage Tips

Identify the safety alignment before the snap, two high safeties that stay deep post snap confirm Cover 2 or Cover 4, which tells you to prioritize the seam routes against the natural void between the corner and safety.

If you see a single high safety rotate down at the snap, that is Cover 3, and your outside verticals should win against the corner selling flat coverage, so take the shot up the numbers early in the progression.

Hot route the backside receiver into a quick option or slant if the defense shows Cover 2 press, this gives you a built in answer if the safety jumps the seam read.

Use this play on early downs or in two minute situations when you need a explosive gain, since the vertical stems put maximum stress on the deep defenders and open the out route as a controlled underneath answer.

Pair this play with Curl Flats or Stick earlier in a series to condition the defense into sitting in shallow zones, then call Four Verticals Sl Out to attack the same shell vertically once linebackers and safeties start cheating up.

Other Plays in 5WR Trio