Playbooks

Fk Screen Verts

Shotgun·Empty Base·11

Play Action Screen Pass Four Verts Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 3 Beater Deep Cross Crosser Hitch Slant Streak

Play diagram for Fk Screen Verts from Shotgun Empty Base in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetEmpty Base

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Air Raid OffenseOffense MUT KO Backyard Heroes OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Fk Screen Verts is a play-action screen concept out of Empty Base Shotgun with 11 personnel that dresses up a four verticals shell to sell run action before releasing the backside receiver on a screen. Off the diagram, the outside receiver to the left runs a quick out and up (screen fake into a vertical), the two inside receivers push vertical seams with one working to a deep in, the right side receiver runs a straight vertical stem, and the far outside receiver runs a true go route, while the offensive line and backfield action flow to a screen look with the underneath blue route running flat and then upfield. This is a zone beater (Cover 2 and Cover 3 tag) that stretches the field vertically while giving you a checkdown screen if the defense sells out on the deep routes. Primary read progression starts with the screen look to freeze linebackers, then climbs to the seams, then works outside to the verticals if the safeties bite on the underneath action.

Defensive Reads

Read the safety depth before the snap, if both safeties are shallow (8 yards or less) they are likely keying run or screen and the verticals will open up behind them. Watch the flow of the linebackers at the snap, aggressive linebacker flow toward the screen side is the green light to climb straight to the seam and go routes. Cover 3 with a single high safety is vulnerable to the seam runners splitting the underneath zone defenders, target the seam that the flowing linebacker vacates. User lurk defenders sitting in the intermediate middle zone can jump the seam routes, so track the user icon and be ready to work the backside vertical or the screen if he bites underneath. Man coverage from cornerbacks with no safety help over the top gets beaten by the go routes, but Cover 4 or Cover 2 with disciplined safeties can sink and take away both verticals, forcing you back down to the screen as the checkdown.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to see if linebackers cheat toward the screen side before the snap.

Identify two deep safeties versus one high safety immediately, since this concept is built to punish Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells that leave seams open.

If you see man coverage across the board, hot route the seam runners into slants or skinny posts to turn this into a quick man beater instead of forcing the vertical shot.

Best called on second and long or third and medium when the defense is likely to sit in zone shells expecting a shorter route concept.

Pair this play with Slot Pick Screen or WR Screen earlier in a drive so the defense respects the screen action, then come back to Fk Screen Verts to hit the verticals when linebackers start jumping short routes.