Playbooks

Four Verticals

Shotgun·Spread·10
Four VertsPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Four Verticals from Shotgun Spread in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Four Verticals out of Shotgun Spread 10 personnel sends all four receivers vertically up the field, with the two outside receivers running straight seams up the numbers and the slot receivers pushing vertical seams between the numbers and the hash. The HB stays in to check release and run a vertical option route up the middle as a fifth option if the pocket holds. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater that stresses deep zone defenders horizontally, and the primary read progression starts outside to inside: work the boundary seam first, then the inside seam, then come back to the HB option route if both safeties or the middle linebacker collapse the throwing lanes.

Defensive Reads

Pre snap identify whether the safeties are showing two high or rotating down to one high, since that dictates which seam window is open Watch the slot corners and nickel defenders at the snap, if they immediately widen to cover the outside seam that opens the inside seam for a bigger throwing window Key the middle linebacker's depth and pursuit angle, a shallow or slow dropping MLB will get run off vertically by the HB option route and create a soft spot up the gut User controlled defenders lurking in the deep middle third are the biggest threat to this concept, so avoid throwing the inside seam into a user rover sitting at 12 to 15 yards This play struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells with disciplined deep defenders who stay square and do not bite on any vertical stem, since there is no natural rub or crossing action to shake coverage

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment before the snap, two deep safeties tipping Cover 2 means you attack the seams between the corner and safety since those defenders have to widen or get run off vertically

If you see a single high safety look for Cover 3 and target the seam that lands between the flat defender and the deep third defender, that window opens up fast against zone drops with poor depth

Hot route the HB option into a pure vertical or a checkdown flare if you expect heavy pressure, since the extra blocker rarely holds up long enough against exotic blitzes

Use this play on 2nd or 3rd and long when you need explosive yardage and the defense is more likely to sit in zone shells rather than bring man pressure

Pair this call with Curl Flats or Y Stick earlier in a series so the defense starts jumping underneath routes, then hit Four Verticals to punish LBs and safeties who are cheating on short zone drops

Other Plays in Spread