Playbooks

Four Verticals

Shotgun·Spread·10
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Four Verticals out of Shotgun Spread sends all four eligible receivers vertically up the field in a classic seam and go stem, stressing every deep zone defender at once. This is a zone beater first and foremost, designed to exploit Cover 2 and Cover 3 by putting more vertical routes into the deep thirds or halves than defenders can cover, though it also stretches Cover 1 if the safety bites on a shallow crosser. The primary read progression starts with the seams (inside receivers) against two high safety shells, then works to the outside verts if the safeties rotate down or widen out of the middle.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the defense shows two high safeties or a single high safety, since Four Verticals dies against a true Cover 1 or Cover 3 Match with a rangy free safety patrolling the middle. Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, shallow dropping linebackers can wall off the seam routes and force the quarterback to hold the ball too long. Post-snap, key the safeties for any rotation, if they widen to take away the outside verts, the seams will be open underneath them for a big gap shot. This play struggles against user-controlled lurk defenders sitting in the deep middle, since a heads up safety or linebacker spying the seam can jump the throw for a pick. Beware disguised zone blitzes, if the defense brings five or six rushers and drops a corner into a deep zone, the extra rusher can collapse the pocket before any of the four verts fully develop.

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties split wide, the seam routes are wide open in the honey hole between the numbers and the hash.

Against Cover 3, target the outside verts on the corners since the deep third defenders have to run the full route with no help over the top.

Use hot routes to convert one outside vert into a deep out or comeback if you diagnose a hard Cover 4 shell, this keeps the corner honest and creates a natural sideline throw.

This play pairs well with Slants Middle or Quick Slants in your play-calling sequence, since defenses that start sitting on the short stuff get burned once you come back to Four Verticals off the same formation look.

Best called on early downs or in two-minute situations where you need a chunk play, avoid it on short yardage third downs since the routes take time to develop and require a full drop from the QB.

Other Plays in Spread