Playbooks

Four Verticals

Shotgun·Spread Y-Slot·11
Four VertsPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Four Verticals from Shotgun Spread Y-Slot in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 18 playbooks

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffenseAir Raid OffenseOffenseBalanced Run OffenseOffenseBroncos OffenseOffenseBuccaneers OffenseOffenseCardinals OffenseOffenseFranchise Offense Two-minuteOffensePanthers OffenseOffenseSaints OffenseOffenseSim Explosivestress Rn OffenseOffenseSuperstar QB Field GeneralTexans OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Four Verticals from Spread Y-Slot Shotgun sends all four eligible receivers vertically up the field, with both outside receivers running seam-clearing verts and the slot receivers (including the Y) pushing straight up the numbers to stress the deep half of the field. The HB stays in to check protection off the blue arrow release, giving the quarterback a clean five step launch point behind a max protect look. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater built to attack the seams and take the top off two-high or three-deep shells, with the primary read starting on the inside seam (the two inner verts) before working to the boundary vert if the safety cheats over the top.

Defensive Reads

Watch the middle of the field safety at the snap, if he stays deep and centered you are likely facing Cover 3 and need to hit the seam before the safety can rotate over. Key the flow of the underneath linebackers, aggressive blitz packages or nano blitzes will leave the seams wide open since there is minimal help behind a rushed front. Identify two-high shells pre-snap, Cover 2 corners playing soft outside leverage tells you the seams between the corner and safety are the number one target. Look for a user controlled safety sitting in the deep middle "lurk" position, this is the biggest threat to the inside verts and should push your eyes to the outside vert instead. Man coverage with press corners is a warning sign, since there is no immediate hot route beyond the HB check, quick jams can disrupt timing before the verts create separation.

Usage Tips

Take a pre-snap look at the safeties before the snap, if you see two-high with soft corners you want to hammer the seams immediately on the snap.

Use the hot route menu to slide the inside verts into a skinny post if you diagnose Cover 3 rotation, this creates natural separation against the middle linebacker's drop.

Save this play for third and long or two-minute situations where you need to attack vertically without worrying about run support, since there is no underneath check down beyond the HB's protection release.

Pair this call with Curls or Digs H Option earlier in a drive so the defense sinks their linebackers, then come back to Four Verticals to hit the seam once they start jumping shorter routes.

If you see man coverage with a single high safety, target the numbers mismatch on the outside vert against a slower linebacker or nickel defender who got matched up by shifting personnel.

Other Plays in Spread Y-Slot