Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Four Verticals out of Trips HB Wk sends all three trips receivers and the backside X straight up the field on vertical stems, with the HB releasing out of the backfield on a flat/option route to the boundary as a checkdown and blocking outlet against blitz. The three trips WRs stack the field horizontally, forcing zone defenders to pick a lane while stretching man corners with pure speed releases. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater built to attack the deep middle void or isolate a corner one-on-one, with the primary read starting at the seam route from the slot before working outside to the numbers verticals.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, count the safeties, one high safety alignment tells you Cover 3 or Cover 1 and the verticals will stress the seams badly. Watch the corners at the snap, if they open their hips and run with the trips receivers it is man coverage, look for the natural pick or rub at the top of the stack. Post-snap key the middle linebacker's drop, if he sinks deep to help on the seam it signals Tampa 2 or Cover 3 with two deep help. User controlled lurk defenders sitting in the deep middle are the biggest threat to this concept, if you see a defender spying that zone check down to the HB immediately. This play struggles against a disguised Cover 4 or quarters shell where four defenders can matchup on four verticals with safety help over the top on every route.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify two deep safeties versus one deep safety before the snap to decide which vertical to prioritize.
Against Cover 2, target the seam route between the corner and safety before the safety can rotate over the top.
Against Cover 3, work outside to the boundary vertical since the single high safety cannot cover all four verticals.
Use the HB option route as your answer versus zone blitz or when the four verts are blanketed, it is a built in checkdown that can also block.
Pair this play with Curls or Deep Stick from the same set so the defense cannot sit on the vertical shell after seeing it once.
On third and long, call this to force a big play or a pass interference penalty against aggressive man corners.
