Playbooks

Verticals H Option

Shotgun·Empty Base Trio·11

Option Route Four Verts Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 3 Beater

Play diagram for Verticals H Option from Shotgun Empty Base Trio in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetEmpty Base Trio

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 4 playbooks

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Breakdown

Verticals H Option is a five wide out empty formation four verticals concept with an option route breaking the coverage from the inside slot. Three outside receivers push straight vertical stems up the numbers to stretch the deep coverage horizontally, while the inside slot receiver runs a seam that breaks into an option (in or out based on the defender leverage) and the other inside slot runs a short vertical to occupy underneath defenders. There is no run blocking shown since this is a full empty protection look, making it a pure pass play designed to beat both zone and man coverage. The primary read progression starts with the option route runner working from inside out, then progresses to the vertical seam and finally to the outside verticals if the middle of the field opens up against zone shells.

Defensive Reads

Read the deep safety count immediately after the snap, two deep defenders splitting the field wide open the seams for the option route and inside vertical. Watch the flat and hook zone defenders closely since a sitting linebacker or user controlled lurker can jump the option route if the quarterback stares it down too long. Against man coverage, look for the option route runner to win quickly on any inside breaking defender since the route is designed to counter both inside and outside technique. Cover 3 with a sky safety rolling over the top is the toughest shell against this concept since it clogs the deep middle and forces the quarterback to hold the ball longer. Blitz packages that bring five or six rushers exploit this play since empty protection has no extra blocker, so a free rusher off the edge or through a gap can force a quick checkdown before the verticals develop.

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment before the snap, two deep safeties tell you Cover 2 or Cover 4 shell where the option route should sit down or break out against the flat defender leverage.

Against single high safety looks like Cover 3 or Cover 1, target the option route runner breaking inside behind the linebackers since the deep middle defender has to respect the four verticals stretch.

Use the option route as your primary read on third and medium to long since it naturally adjusts to whatever leverage the defender shows post snap.

Hot route the outside verticals into comebacks if you see aggressive press man corners jumping the stems, this turns four verts into a quick timing throw.

Pair this play with Bubble Screen or Slants from the same set to keep defenses honest on early downs, then hit Verticals H Option once you bait linebackers into cheating up on shorter routes.