Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Verticals HB Burst is a four verticals shot play out of Shotgun Tight Open with 11 personnel. Both outside receivers and the TE run straight verts up the numbers and the seam, the backside slot runs a vertical seam as well, while the HB releases outside and up the flat on a burst route after selling a check release. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater designed to stress deep zone defenders and single-high safeties, and the primary read progression starts with the seams (the red and inner yellow verts) working outside to the boundary verts, with the HB burst as the checkdown against blitz or if the safeties collapse the middle.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the safeties are showing two high or rotating to single high, this determines which vertical route will have the best window. Watch for cornerbacks pressed at the line, if they are playing outside shade technique the inside seam routes become the primary target versus man coverage. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker's drop, a shallow drop into the seam or a delayed drop signals zone and opens throwing lanes to the inner verticals. This play struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells with two deep safeties sitting on the numbers, since they can help over the top on both outside verts. Look for user-controlled defenders lurking in the middle of the field, a rover or spy sitting in the deep middle can jump the inside seam route and bait a turnover if you force the throw.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap, two high safeties who cheat outside means the seam routes will split them for an explosive gain.
Against single high Cover 3 shells, target the inner seam or the opposite hash vertical since the free safety cannot cover both verticals in the middle of the field.
Hot route the HB to a flat or check release block if you diagnose an overload blitz, since the burst route alone will not hold up against extra rushers.
Use this play on second and long or third and long situations where defenses expect a shorter throw, the verticals concept punishes zone drops that sit short.
Pair this with Mesh Spot or Stick from the same set to keep the defense honest, once they start jumping underneath routes to stop the quick game, come back to Verticals HB Burst to hit them over the top.
