Bunch Verts

Check the pre snap safety alignment first, two high shells with safeties sitting at 10 to 12 yards signal Cover 2 or Cover 4, which opens up the seam and outside vertical against the natural hole in zone coverage. Watch the cornerback press technique on the bunch side, soft or bail technique usually means zone drops are coming and the seam route will have room, while hard press alignment often signals man coverage or a potential bunch blitz look. Key the linebacker depth and width before the snap, shallow linebackers who stay tight to the box are vulnerable to the seam routes splitting the zone, while linebackers who bail deep pre snap are showing you a zone drop that can be exploited with the outside verticals. User controlled defenders sitting in a deep lurk or robber technique in the middle of the field are the biggest threat to this play, if you see a user spy sitting on the seam route, work the progression to the outside vertical or the backside X instead. This play struggles against disciplined Cover 4 quarters shells with safeties that stay patient and match verticals, and it is especially vulnerable to a well timed nano blitz since the four verts concept requires time for the deep routes to develop and offers minimal underneath protection help.