Playbooks

Four Verticals

Shotgun·Normal Y Off Wk·11
Four VertsPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Four Verticals from Shotgun Normal Y Off Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Four Verticals out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Wk sends four receivers vertically up the seams and sidelines while the HB stays in to check block and release on a shallow drag. Both outside WRs and the TE stem straight up the field, with the slot WR (nearest the formation) working an inside seam to occupy the deep middle defender. This is a classic zone beater designed to stress Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells by overloading the deep zones with more vertical threats than there are deep defenders, and the primary read progression starts with the seams (TE and slot WR) before working outside to the boundary verticals based on safety rotation.

Defensive Reads

Pre snap, check safety depth and width, if both safeties are shaded outside the numbers the seams will be wide open. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard into seam windows instead of covering underneath, the HB release becomes the answer. Post snap, identify user controlled defenders lurking in the middle of the field, since a smart user will sit in the deep middle to jump the seam reads. This play struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells with four deep defenders, since every vertical route gets matched one on one with no natural void. Man coverage with underneath robber help can also disrupt this concept, so be ready to check to Double Slants or WR Under if you see man alignment with a defender sitting in a robber spot.

Usage Tips

Presnap, identify whether the defense shows two deep safeties or one high safety, since that dictates which verticals will have soft spots to attack.

Against Cover 2, target the seams before the safeties can squeeze down, since the corners will be sitting on the outside routes underneath.

Against Cover 3, work the vertical that splits the two deep defenders on that side, usually the seam route away from the single high safety's initial break.

Use the HB check release as a checkdown against man pressure or blitz looks where the underneath defenders vacate to cover verticals.

Pair this play with Double Slants or Curl Combo from the same set to keep the defense honest, since the similar formation look forces defenders to respect verticals off similar personnel and alignment.

Other Plays in Normal Y Off Wk