Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Four Verticals out of Shotgun Trey Open Offset sends three vertical stems up the seams and sideline while the backside route breaks flat underneath as a checkdown or hot route outlet. The two outside verticals stretch the sideline while the middle receiver runs a vertical that bends outward, creating natural seam separation against zone shells, and the running back releases on a flat route to hold the underside defender. This is a pure man and zone beater four verts concept, with the primary read progressing from the deep middle seam to the outside verticals and finally down to the flat route if the safeties rob the seams.
Defensive Reads
As the defense, key the safety depth at the snap since four verts is designed to exploit safeties who bite on shorter routes or bail late. Watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the deep middle zone, since that defender can undercut the inside seam route and bait a costly interception. Press man coverage on the outside receivers with safety help over the top is one of the few ways to consistently shut down all three vertical stems. Disguise Cover 2 into a Cover 3 rotation post snap to confuse the quarterback's seam read and force a hesitation throw. If the offense audibles into empty motion, prepare for the running back to release into the flat rather than block, and have a linebacker ready to sink into that zone.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the safeties are showing two high or rotating to single high, since four verts is designed to punish two high shells by overloading the seams.
If you see Cover 3 with a single high safety, target the seam route that bends away from the middle linebacker's zone drop for a explosive gain.
Use the flat route as a hot route dump against blitz looks when the offensive line shows a protection mismatch, especially on third and medium.
Pair this play with Y Stick or Strong Curl in the same set to keep defenses honest on shorter zone beaters before hitting them with the vertical shot.
Motion the backside receiver before the snap to diagnose man versus zone coverage based on whether a defender follows across the formation.
