Playbooks

Four Verticals

Shotgun·Spread Flex·11

Four Verts Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 3 Beater

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

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSpread Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 3 playbooks

Franchise College Spread OffenseOffense Balanced Pass OffenseOffense Spread Classic

Breakdown

Four Verticals out of Shotgun Spread Flex sends all four eligible receivers vertical up the seams and sidelines, with the two outside receivers on the boundary and the slot receiver and TE splitting the seams underneath them. The HB stays in as a check release or leaks up the middle behind the rush, and the offensive line holds a standard pass protection look to give the QB time to climb the progression. This is a pure zone beater designed to stress Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells by overloading the deep zones, and the primary read progression works from the seam routes to the outside verticals, working inside to outside based on the safety rotation.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, count the safeties: two deep safeties usually means Cover 2 or Cover 4, one deep safety usually means Cover 1 or Cover 3, and both shells dictate which vertical route will win. Watch cornerback depth at the snap, since press corners in Cover 2 or Cover 4 can disrupt the outside verticals with a physical jam, while soft corners give up an easy release for the outside routes. Track linebacker depth and drop speed post-snap, since a linebacker who sits too shallow or gets caught reading the backfield opens up the seam route immediately. Look for user-controlled defenders sitting in the middle of the field (lurk technique), since a smart user will jump the inside seam and take away that throw, forcing the QB to work outside. This play struggles against Cover 4 with disciplined deep quarters coverage and against a well-timed blitz that collapses the pocket before the seams clear, so check protection and consider a hot route adjustment if you see six or more defenders in the box.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high safety, since that determines which seam route will be open against Cover 2 versus Cover 3.

Against Cover 2, target the seam route on the side where the safety cheats late, since the inside vertical will split the corner and safety before the safety can get over the top.

Against Cover 3, work the outside verticals first since the deep third defenders have to respect width, and the seam sits behind the underneath zone defenders in the honey hole.

Hot route the HB to a flat or check release if you see a heavy blitz look, giving the QB an outlet against five or six man pressure.

Pair this play with Y Stick or Quick Slants earlier in a drive to bait linebackers into sitting shallow, then come back to Four Verticals once the defense shows a tendency to play underneath zones tight.