Playbooks

Drag Verticals

Shotgun·Trey Open·11
DragFour VertsPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Drag Verticals from Shotgun Trey Open in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Drag Verticals out of Shotgun Trey Open sends three receivers vertically up the field while the fullback or slot runs a drag underneath from the opposite side, creating a natural high low read against zone defenses. The two outside receivers on the trips side run go routes to clear out the top of the coverage while the inline receiver runs a deep crossing route into the void, and the drag route sits underneath as an outlet against pressure or a check down against zone drops. This is primarily a Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater, with the primary read progression starting on the deep crosser working into the vertical seam, then working down to the drag route if the safeties rotate over the top.

Defensive Reads

Watch the free safety depth pre snap, if he is shaded to the trips side the backside drag route becomes the easier throw Identify the middle linebacker drop, a slow reacting linebacker in Tampa 2 or Cover 4 will get beat by the seam route on the trips side Look for a user controlled defender sitting in the deep middle third, this is the primary threat that can jump the deep crossing route and bait a turnover Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed quickly by the verticals since there is no natural help defender for the deep crosser Cover 2 corners playing outside leverage will struggle to stay with the go routes, forcing the safeties to bail deep and open the drag underneath

Usage Tips

Use this play on second or third and long when you need to attack the deep middle of the field against a two high safety shell

Check the corners pre snap, if they are aligned with outside leverage the verticals on the trips side will have room to work up the sideline

If the defense shows Cover 3 with a single high safety, key the drag route immediately since the underneath zone defenders will be occupied by the vertical routes

Hot route the drag into a deeper crossing route against teams that sit their linebackers in shallow zone to bait the drag

Pair this play with Y Cross or Verts X Drag earlier in a drive so the defense has to respect both the horizontal drag and the vertical shots, making it harder to sit on either read

Other Plays in Trey Open