Playbooks
Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.
| Player | Side | Route |
|---|---|---|
| HB1 | Right | Block and Release Hook |
| WR3 | Right | Deep Cross |
| WR1 | Left | Fade |
| WR2 | Right | Wheel |
| WR4 | Right | Seam Read |
Four Verticals out of Shotgun Trio 4wr Str sends all four eligible receivers vertically up the field, stretching the defense from sideline to sideline against both man and zone coverage. This is a classic man beater and Cover 3 zone beater, designed to exploit seams between deep zone defenders or win with a straight line speed mismatch against man coverage. The primary read progression starts with the seam route to the passing strength side, then works to the opposite seam, using the middle of the field safety as the key indicator for where the window opens.
Identify the middle of the field safety pre-snap, a single high look tells you the seams will be open against Cover 3 or Cover 1 robber. Watch the corners at the snap, if they open their hips and run with the outside verticals in man coverage you have a straight speed matchup to exploit down the sideline. Key the linebackers depth off the snap, shallow linebacker drops or a lurking user defender sitting in the passing lanes will squeeze the inside seams and force you to move on quickly. Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties, expect the corners to sit and play the flat or curl, which takes away the outside verticals and forces your quarterback to find the seam or bail out. Watch for a disguised blitz where the defense shows two high safeties then rotates down to Cover 1 after the snap, this is where user pressure off the edge can collapse the pocket before your verticals fully develop.
Check the pre-snap safety alignment before the snap, a single high safety usually means Cover 3 or Cover 1 and tells you to attack the seams immediately. If you see two safeties deep, look for Cover 2 or Cover 4 and be ready to hot route one of the outside verticals into a comeback or hitch to punish the corner playing off. Use the hot route menu to convert the shallow crosser into a dig or option route if the defense shows heavy blitz pressure, giving your quarterback a quick outlet. This play works best on early downs or in two minute situations where you need a explosive shot play, since it takes time to develop against a deep drop. Pair Four Verticals with Slants or Short Posts from the same Trio 4wr Str set to keep the defense honest, if they start jumping the verticals with safety help, dial up the quicker route concepts to attack the space underneath. Motion a receiver pre-snap to identify man versus zone, if a defender follows across the formation you know it is man coverage and can key your one on one matchup on the perimeter.