Playbooks

Four Verticals

Shotgun·Spread Y-Flex·11
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

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In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Four Verticals out of Spread Y-Flex sends four receivers straight up the field on vertical stems, stretching the defense sideline to sideline and forcing every deep defender to make a decision. This is a classic man beater against single high looks and a zone beater against light box coverages, since it overloads the deep third or deep half with more routes than defenders can cover. The primary read progression starts with the seam routes from the inside receivers, then works to the outside verticals if the safety rotates away, with the HB check release as your emergency valve if the rush gets home.

Defensive Reads

Identify a single high safety pre snap since Four Verticals dominates Cover 1 and Cover 3 by putting more vertical threats in the deep zone than defenders available. Watch for the deep safety's leverage at the snap, if he bites on a seam route the opposite outside vertical is wide open for a big play. Cover 2 with sound corners jamming the outside verticals and squeezing the seams is the toughest shell to beat, since both safeties can split the field and the corners funnel routes inside. Look out for user controlled safeties lurking in the middle of the field, a smart user will sit in the deep middle and rob the inside seam so the outside verticals become the better option. Read linebacker depth at the snap, if they drop deep into the seams instead of playing underneath it signals a Cover 3 buzz call and the outside verticals against man corners become the highest value throw.

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties bail out and check to a run or a shorter concept since this play is built to punish single high shells. Use your hot routes to convert one of the outside verticals into a deep out or comeback if you diagnose Cover 2 or Cover 4 quarters looks post snap. Save this play for second and long or third and long situations where the defense expects a shorter passing concept, catching them off guard with the shot play. Pair this call with Y Stick or Stick Double Slant earlier in a series to bait linebackers into shallow drops, then hit Four Verticals when the defense starts cheating up. Take the shot on the seam route immediately if you see a Cover 1 blitz since the middle linebacker vacates and the safety cannot cover two verticals by himself.

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