Playbooks

Verts X Drag

Shotgun·Trey Open·11

Drag Four Verts Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 3 Beater

Play diagram for Verts X Drag from Shotgun Trey Open in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrey Open

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 5 playbooks

Air Raid OffenseOffense Run N Gun OffenseOffense Superstar QB Gunslinger Superstar WR Deep Threat Superstar WR RAC

Breakdown

Verts X Drag out of Shotgun Trey Open sends three vertical routes up the numbers from the Trey side while the backside X runs a drag across the field underneath, and the inline blue route swings out of the backfield for a checkdown flat option. This is a classic Cover 3 and Cover 2 beater built to attack seams with the verticals while the drag sits in the void behind linebackers who bite on the run action or flow with the verts. Primary progression starts with the seam or hole read on the verticals against single high safeties, then works down to the drag if the middle of the field is occupied, with the flat route as the last resort checkdown.

Defensive Reads

Watch the free safety depth presnap, if he is shaded to one side favor the vertical route away from his help Against Cover 3 attack the seam between the deep third defenders since the linebackers cannot get enough depth to wall off all three verticals Cover 2 shells struggle with the drag because the underneath zone defenders are occupied by the verticals clearing out the deep half If you see linebackers sinking hard and reading the quarterback eyes, expect a jump on the drag route, so be ready to reset to the backside vertical Man coverage with a deep lurking safety will bracket the seam routes, so check the drag or flat immediately after the snap if you diagnose man leverage

Usage Tips

Presnap identify if the safety is showing single high or two high, since verts hunt seams versus Cover 3 and the drag exploits the vacated middle versus Cover 2

Hot route the flat back into a quick out or flat route if you see man coverage with no underneath help to give yourself a rhythm throw versus blitz

Use the drag as your answer against zone drops when linebackers sink deep with the verticals, it will sit in the throwing lane around the numbers

Pair this call with Curls or Stick from the same set to keep the defense honest on shorter zone drops, then hit them with Verts X Drag once they start jumping underneath routes

Best used on second and long or third and long when you need a explosive play but still want a safety valve if the coverage rotates late