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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Verts Out lines up out of Shotgun Doubles Y Off with 11 personnel and stretches the field vertically on the left while clearing out an out route on the right. The two outside receivers on the left run vertical seams up the numbers, the slot receiver runs a vertical route up the middle of the field, and the flanker on the right runs an out route breaking hard to the sideline. This is a Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater built off four verticals principles, with the out route serving as a built in sideline answer against squat corners or a curl-flat defender.
Defensive Reads
Watch pre-snap safety depth and width, since shallow or widened safeties signal Cover 2 and open the vertical seams for a big play. Check corner alignment on the right side, if the corner sits with outside leverage he is vulnerable to the out route breaking to the sideline. Post-snap, track the deep middle safety in Cover 3 looks, as he can only cover one vertical threat and leaves the opposite seam exposed. Beware user controlled lurk defenders sitting in the shallow middle zone, since they can jump the crossing traffic near the seams if the quarterback holds the ball too long. This play struggles against press man Cover 0 or Cover 1 with no safety help over the top, since the verticals lose separation quickly and the out route has no time to develop against a blitz.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify two high versus one high safety shells since this play attacks both Cover 2 and Cover 3 with different reads.
Against Cover 2, key the safeties: if they widen to the seams, hit the out route in the void created underneath.
Against Cover 3, work the vertical routes on the left first, targeting the seam between the corner and the deep third safety before the out route comes open late.
Use hot routes to convert the out into a comeback if you see a hard squat corner jumping the sideline read.
Pair this call with Curl Combo or Y-sail on early downs to set up the safety rotation, then hit Verts Out on second and long or third and medium once the defense starts cheating toward shorter zone beaters.
