Playbooks
Breakdown
Four Verticals out of Shotgun Doubles Offset Wk sends all four eligible receivers vertical to stretch the field from sideline to sideline, with the outside X and the far slot both running straight seams up the numbers while the offset TE releases up the seam from the backfield and the inside slot runs a shallow climb route into the middle void. The HB stays in to help protect, picking up the edge rusher off the diagram, giving the quarterback a clean pocket to climb into as the routes develop. This is a pure man and zone beater: read the safeties first, then work the progression from the seam that opens the widest passing lane, typically the two inside verticals against Cover 2 or Cover 3 middle voids.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check for two deep safeties versus a single high safety, this tells you whether you are seeing Cover 2 or Cover 4 versus Cover 3 or Cover 1. Watch cornerback depth at the snap, press corners with no safety help behind them are vulnerable to the outside verticals beating them over the top on a go route. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker's drop, if he sinks deep into a Tampa 2 style drop he can take away the inside seam and force you to the outside verticals instead. Identify user-controlled safeties lurking in the deep middle, a user who sits in the honey hole can rob the inside verticals, so be ready to climb the pocket and hit the outside seam. This play struggles against a well timed Cover 3 sky or Cover 4 quarters shell with disciplined deep defenders, if you see those shells with no blitz, consider checking down to a quicker route concept instead.
Usage Tips
Check safety alignment before the snap, two high safeties tips Cover 2 or Cover 4 and you should target the seams between the corner and safety, one high safety means Cover 3 and you attack the deep middle void with the inside verticals.
Use the offset TE seam route as your first read against Cover 3 since the middle linebacker cannot cover that much ground vertically.
Hot route the shallow inside receiver into a deep dig or drag if you are getting Cover 2 with jamming corners at the line, this gives you a quick outlet if the seams are taken away.
Call this on obvious passing downs like third and long or in two minute drill situations since it takes time to develop and needs a clean pocket.
Pair this with RPO Peek Slant or RPO Alert Bubble from the same set to keep defenses honest, if they start selling out on the run game to stop those RPOs, come back to Four Verticals to hit them over the top.
