Playbooks

Four Verticals

Shotgun·Trey Open Offset·11

Four Verts Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 3 Beater

Play diagram for Four Verticals from Shotgun Trey Open Offset in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrey Open Offset

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

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Breakdown

Four Verticals out of Trey Open Offset in Shotgun sends four receivers vertical to stretch the field horizontally and vertically, with the two outside receivers running straight seams up the numbers, the slot receiver pushing vertical before breaking outside on a corner-ish route toward the boundary, and the tight end releasing on a quick out to the flat as a checkdown and coverage clearer. The HB stays in to protect, giving the QB a clean five-man pocket against most four-man rushes. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater built to attack the seams and the deep middle void, and the primary read progression starts with the seam routes for a hole shot between the safeties before working to the deep breaking route from the slot and finally the flat route to the tight end as the last resort.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify whether the safeties are showing two high or rotating to one high, since this determines whether you attack the seams or the deep middle void. Watch cornerback depth at the snap, if corners bail immediately into deep zone drops that confirms zone coverage and tells you to rush your seam reads before the window closes. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker or any user-controlled defender dropping into the deep middle hole, since that defender is the primary threat against the seam and corner routes. Man coverage with no help over the top is the worst case for the defense against this concept, since all four verticals can win one-on-one against slower linebackers or misaligned corners. A hard blitz with man coverage behind it can shut this down quickly if the tight end's blocker cannot hold up, so recognize blitz pressure pre-snap and be ready to get the ball out fast to the flat or seam.

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment before the snap, if both safeties are deep and split wide you have a clean seam throw window against Cover 2, if you see one deep safety rotate hard to a Cover 3 shell you want to work the seams away from the middle field defender.

Use the tight end flat route as a hot route conversion tool against man coverage by sliding him to a quick option or drag if you diagnose blitz, since he is the shortest and safest outlet.

This play is a Cover 2 beater specifically because the seam routes split the deep half defenders, so throw with anticipation before the safeties can squeeze the window.

Pair this play with Y Stick or Mesh in the same set to keep the defense honest, since those quick game concepts punish teams that sit back in soft zones expecting Four Verticals again.

Best called on second and long or third and medium when the defense is more likely to sit in a two deep shell, since the vertical stress forces linebackers to widen and opens throwing lanes underneath if you check down.