Playbooks

PA Verticals

Shotgun·Bunch TE·11
Play ActionFour VertsPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for PA Verticals from Shotgun Bunch TE in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 4 playbooks

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Breakdown

PA Verticals out of Shotgun Bunch TE runs a play-action fake to the HB before releasing three vertical routes from the bunch alignment. The two outside receivers push straight up the seam and sideline while the inside bunch receiver (red route) works an inside release before bending vertical up the middle of the field, stressing the deep third or deep half from three levels wide. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater designed to overload one side with verticals, so the primary read progression starts with the deepest outside route against Cover 2 corners cheating underneath, then works inside to the seam runner attacking the middle void between the safeties.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify two deep safeties for Cover 2 or Cover 4 versus one deep safety for Cover 3 or Cover 1, since that dictates whether you target the seam or the sideline verticals. Watch cornerback depth at the snap: press corners jumping the outside verticals early open up the inside seam route for an easy explosive gain. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker or nickel defender's drop, since a user-controlled lurker sitting in the seam can jump the inside route and bait a costly interception. This concept struggles against Cover 4 quarters shells with disciplined safeties who stay on top of verticals, so be ready to check down if both safeties stay deep and split the field evenly. Man coverage with no help over the top gets exposed if your seam runner wins inside leverage, so look for blown coverage or a linebacker matched up in man before committing to that route.

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment before the snap: two deep safeties tells you Cover 2 or Cover 4 so target the seam route between the numbers and the hash where the safety has to choose a body.

Against single high looks, work the outside verticals immediately since the deep third defender cannot cover all three routes and the play-action fake should hold the linebackers or slot defender for an extra beat.

Use the play-action fake fully by letting the animation play out against aggressive run blitz teams, since it freezes linebackers just long enough to open the seam window.

Pair this with Bunch Levels or Mtn Return Flood Stick on the next snap to keep the defense guessing between shallow combination routes and verticals off the same bunch look.

Best called on second and medium or third and long when defenses are more likely to sit in zone shells, and avoid it on shorter downs where teams will crowd the box and speed up unblocked pressure to the QB.

Other Plays in Bunch TE