Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Verticals out of Bunch Y-Flex sends four receivers vertically to stretch the field horizontally and vertically at once. From the bunch, the inside receiver runs a skinny post to attack the middle of the field, the two outside bunch receivers release into vertical seams up the numbers, and the backside X receiver runs a vertical stem up the boundary. The RB stays in to check release out of the backfield, leaving five in protection against four verts. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater built to overload zone leverage points, with the primary read starting on the post working the deep middle void before working to the seams and outside vertical based on safety rotation.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and width. Safeties sitting shallow at 8 to 10 yards signal Cover 2, which opens the post seam behind them. A single high safety cheating to one side signals Cover 3 or Cover 1, which opens the vertical seam away from his rotation. Post-snap, watch the deep middle defender in Cover 3 sink and widen. If he bites on the post, the far seam route will be uncovered for a big gain. Key the flat defender and outside corner leverage against Cover 2. If the corner sinks with the seam receiver instead of squatting on the flat, the underneath window disappears and you must trust the post or backside vertical. Watch for user-controlled safeties lurking the deep middle. If the user drops down to rob the post, the seam routes on either side will be open against zone rotation. This concept struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells with two deep safeties who can split the seams, and it is vulnerable to a nano blitz since the RB is the only extra protection beyond the five linemen.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense shows two deep safeties or one high before the snap since this route concept punishes both shells differently. Against Cover 2, target the post running through the seam between the safeties before they can gain width. Against Cover 3, work the seam route away from the deep middle defender since the single high safety cannot cover two verticals to the same side. Use motion or a hot route to convert the backside X vertical into a comeback or dig if you diagnose man coverage with no help over the top. Pair this call with Curls Y Swirl or Z Spot from the same set to keep the defense guessing between vertical shots and underneath option routes, then come back to Verticals once the defense starts sitting on shorter zones. Best used on second and long or third and long when you need to stretch the field and are willing to take a shot down the field.
