Playbooks

Verticals

Shotgun·Trey Y-Flex·11

Four Verts Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 3 Beater

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

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrey Y-Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

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Breakdown

Verticals out of Shotgun Trey Y-Flex sends both outside receivers and the Y-Flex tight end vertically up the field, stacking the defense with three deep vertical stems while the slot receiver runs a shallow drag across the middle to hold linebackers and underneath zone defenders. The HB releases out of the backfield on a wheel route to the flat, giving a fourth vertical option and a built in check against blitz pressure. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater, and the primary read progression starts with the deep middle safety on the two inside verticals before working outside to the boundary vertical and checking down to the HB wheel if the safety rotates over top.

Defensive Reads

Watch the middle of the field safety at the snap, if he stays home in the deep middle you want to work the seam route to the open side away from him. Cover 2 shells are vulnerable to the seams splitting the two deep safeties, so attack the numbers between the safeties before they can close the window. Cover 3 defenses are stressed when the deep third defenders have to choose between the outside vertical and the seam, creating natural leverage for the quarterback to throw off the safety's hips. If you see a robber or lurk defender sitting in the shallow drag's path, check down late or move on to the HB wheel since the drag will be taken away. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the biggest liability for this play, so trust your outside verticals to win one on one against slower linebackers or blitzing corners.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify whether the safety is showing single high or two high since this play attacks both shells differently, with two high forcing you to the seams and single high opening up the outside verticals.

Use the drag route as a built in hot route adjustment against zone drops, since it settles underneath linebackers and gives you a quick outlet if the verticals get blanketed.

This play shines on third and long or two minute drill situations where you need to stress the deep defenders and force a big play or a pass interference call.

Pair Verticals with WR Screen or HB Pump Draw earlier in a drive to bait linebackers into aggressive run fits, then come back with Verticals to hit the seam once they are sitting short.

Against aggressive user blitzers, key on the HB wheel route since it becomes your fastest answer to pressure and turns a coverage sack into an explosive gain.