Playbooks

Fake Screen Verticals

Shotgun·Bunch Open Offset·11

Play Action Screen Pass Four Verts Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 3 Beater

Play diagram for Fake Screen Verticals from Shotgun Bunch Open Offset in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetBunch Open Offset

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

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Breakdown

Fake Screen Verticals is a play-action shot play out of the Shotgun Bunch Open Offset set that dresses up a running back screen fake before releasing four vertical stems downfield. The bunch releases into two verticals that break outside toward the sideline while the backside single receiver runs a straight go route up the boundary, and the screen fake to the flat holds linebackers and underneath defenders just long enough to open throwing lanes. This is a play-action, Four Verts based Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater, with the primary read progression going from the backside single receiver's vertical against a lone deep half or deep third defender, then working to the bunch side verticals if the safety cheats to the boundary route.

Defensive Reads

Watch linebacker depth pre-snap: shallow linebackers who bite hard on run fakes will vacate the middle of the field and get run past on Four Verts. Identify two high safety shells for Cover 2, since the corners have flat responsibility and can be beaten deep by the outside vertical breaks. Against single high Cover 3, the deep third corner or safety on the backside go route is isolated and must be tested immediately before help arrives. Key user controlled safeties post-snap: if they crash down on the screen fake, both verticals on the bunch side become uncontested throws. Beware disciplined defenses that sit their linebackers and don't bite on the screen action, since that eliminates the play action window and forces you into a straight vertical route contest.

Usage Tips

Sell the screen fake by holding the ball and eyeing the flat before turning to your verticals so linebackers bite on the run action.

Use this on early downs or second and short to catch defenses keying run out of bunch formations, since the RPO Trap Alert Screen and Duo in this set set up the same visual look.

Check safety depth pre-snap: if you see two high safeties sitting deep, target the bunch side verticals since Cover 2 corners have to respect the flat and get beat vertically.

If the defense shows single high Cover 3, work the backside go route immediately since the deep third defender has to defend the sideline alone.

Pair this shot play with RPO Read Bubble or RPO Peek WR Screen earlier in a series so defenders start flowing hard to the bunch action, making the verticals fake hit even harder.