Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 12 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Verticals is a four vertical concept out of Shotgun Bunch Quads that stresses the deep middle and both sideline seams. The lone receiver split away from the bunch runs a deep vertical up the numbers, while the bunch releases into a vertical, a shallow crossing route heading to the opposite sideline, and a seam route from the innermost bunch receiver up the boundary, with the running back releasing on a shallow angle route underneath as a checkdown or man beater against blitz. This is a pass play designed as both a Cover 2 beater (attacking the deep middle void between safeties) and a Cover 3 beater (overloading the deep thirds with four verticals). Primary read progression starts with the deep seam from the bunch side, works to the crossing route if the safety rotates over the top, and comes down to the running back's underneath angle route as the checkdown against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment. Two deep safeties split evenly signal Cover 2, which this play is designed to exploit through the deep middle. Watch for a single high safety cheating to one side. That indicates Cover 3 or Cover 1, and you should target the sideline vertical away from his leverage. Post-snap, identify any user-controlled defender dropping into a deep middle lurk. If the user sits in the honeyhole between the verticals, work the crossing route or the running back's angle route instead. Check linebacker depth at the snap. Shallow linebackers who sink into passing lanes can undercut the crossing route, so be ready to climb the ladder to a deeper vertical. Look for man coverage indicators such as defenders shadowing the bunch receivers through their releases. Against man coverage, the verticals become one-on-one win opportunities for taller or faster receivers.
Usage Tips
Use motion before the snap to identify if the defense is playing man or zone based on whether a defender follows the motion man across the formation.
Attack Cover 2 by targeting the deep middle seam route from the bunch, since the two deep safeties cannot cover four verticals without a hole opening up between them.
Against Cover 3, key on the single high safety and throw away from his leverage, hitting the far sideline vertical or the crossing route in the void.
Use the running back's underneath angle route as your answer versus the blitz, since it releases quickly and gives the quarterback a safety valve before a sack.
Pair this play with Mtn Spot or Drag Under in the same set to give the defense a run-pass style conflict off the same bunch look, then hit them with verticals once they start jumping the shorter routes.
