Playbooks

Four Verticals

Shotgun·Spread Dbl Flex·11

Four Verts Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 3 Beater

Play diagram for Four Verticals from Shotgun Spread Dbl Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSpread Dbl Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

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Breakdown

Four Verticals out of Spread Dbl Flex sends all four receivers vertical up the seams and sidelines, with the two outside receivers releasing up the numbers and the two inside receivers splitting the seams, while the running back stays in to check release and chips the play side before sitting in the shallow flat as a safety valve. There is no play-action or blocking scheme to speak of beyond protection since this is a pure dropback passing concept designed to stretch the field vertically. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater that overloads deep zones with more vertical threats than defenders can cover, and the primary read progression starts with the seam routes before working outside to the numbers based on safety rotation.

Defensive Reads

Identify two high safeties pre-snap as the biggest indicator this play will win, since Cover 2 defenders cannot cover four verticals with only two deep defenders. Watch for a single high safety shading toward the strength of the formation, which tells you to attack the opposite seam where the coverage is thinnest. Post-snap, key on the middle linebacker's depth and drop, since a user-controlled linebacker sitting in a deep hole or lurking the seam can jump the inside route and bait a turnover. Man coverage with press corners and no deep help is the matchup to avoid, since tight man coverage with no busted assignments can suffocate every route before separation develops. Watch for Cover 3 sky or buzz variations where a corner or safety rotates down late, since that late rotation often opens a soft spot on the boundary seam or the opposite numbers route.

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties sitting deep this is a green light against Cover 2 because the seam routes will split the numbers and hash defenders. Against single high looks with a deep middle safety, work the play side seam away from the safety's leverage and put the ball on the seam runner before the safety can slide over. Use hot routes to convert the running back's route into a flat or check release block if you are getting pressure looks pre-snap, since protection is thin with four receivers vertical. This play hits best on second and long or third and long when defenses are more likely to sit in soft zone shells rather than press man. Pair this with Slot Out or Quick Slants in the same set to keep defenses honest, since if they start jumping the seams early you can dial back to a quick game answer that punishes underneath aggression.