Playbooks

Mtn Verticals

Shotgun·Trey Y-Flex Str·11

Four Verts Motion Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 3 Beater

Play diagram for Mtn Verticals from Shotgun Trey Y-Flex Str in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrey Y-Flex Str

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Balanced OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Mtn Verticals lines up from Trey Y-Flex Str in Shotgun with three receivers stacked to one side and a lone receiver on the boundary who runs a shallow drag across the field underneath everything. Off the trips side, the two outside receivers push vertical seams up the field while the inside slot receiver runs an inward hook to the middle of the field before working back out, creating a four verticals shell attacking every deep zone landmark. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater designed to stretch deep safeties and outside corners vertically, with the primary read progression going from the outermost vertical seam route to the inside hook/vertical breaking route, then working down to the underneath drag as a checkdown against tight zone coverage.

Defensive Reads

Watch for two deep safeties pre-snap, if they sit at depth without rotating this play is live because the seams will open before help arrives. Identify single high safety alignment as a warning sign for the user controlled defender lurking in the middle, since a good player can sit on the inside hook route and jump the throw. Look at corner depth and press alignment, soft corners without safety help over the top get beat clean on the outside verticals. Key linebacker depth at the snap, shallow linebackers who bail late into zone drops can still get beat vertically but disciplined ones who read the quarterback's eyes can undercut the inside route. Be wary of Cover 4 or quarters shells with disciplined safeties, since they can match verticals man to man and take away the deep shots, forcing you down to the drag route underneath.

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two deep safeties split evenly this play is built to attack the seams between them before they can rotate over the top.

Use the outside vertical on the trips side as your first read against Cover 3, since the flat defender and deep third corner are stressed vertically with no help underneath.

If the defense shows single high safety look, work the inside hook route quickly since that receiver will find a soft spot between the hash and the safety before he can get depth.

Use the drag route on the backside as a built in checkdown against heavy zone drops or a delayed blitz look, it clears out underneath and gives you a quick answer if your protection breaks down.

Pair this play with Mtn Slot Screen or RPO Peek Slant in the same set to keep defenses honest, since both punish teams that sit in zone coverage trying to take away the verticals.