Playbooks

Verticals

Shotgun·Trips HB Wk·10
Four VertsPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 BeaterDeep CrossCrosserFadeOption RouteSeamStreak
Play diagram for Verticals from Shotgun Trips HB Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Receiver routes

Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.

See this play with a team's players
PlayerSideRoute
HB1LeftOption Route
SLWRRightDeep Cross
WR1LeftFade
WR2RightStreak
SLWR2RightSeam Read

Read progression

  1. WR1 left, Fade
  2. SLWR right, Deep Cross
  3. WR2 right, Streak or SLWR2 right, Seam Read
  4. HB1 left, Option RouteCheck-down

Breakdown

Verticals out of Shotgun Trips HB Wk sends all three trips receivers vertical, with the outside trips receiver breaking his stem into a deep out/corner while the two inside receivers stack seams up the field, and the backside single WR runs a straight go route up the numbers. The HB stays in as a check release or protection blocker away from the trips side. This is a classic Four Verts shell built to stress Cover 2 and Cover 3 by overloading the deep middle and forcing a two high safety to pick a seam, with the primary read progressing from the backside iso go route to the inside seam and finally to the breaking route on the trips side if the safety commits.

Defensive Reads

Pre snap, count the safeties, two high alignment means the defense is likely sitting in Cover 2 or Cover 4 and will try to squeeze the seams Watch the corner over the backside iso receiver, if he opens his hips early to run with the go route that confirms man coverage and the seam becomes wide open Post snap, key the middle linebacker's drop, a shallow zone drop from the Mike opens a throwing lane to the inside seam before he can get depth This play struggles against Cover 3 with a rangy free safety who can rob the middle seam, and it gets shut down completely by a Cover 4 quarters shell with disciplined deep defenders Look for a user controlled safety sitting in a lurk position in the middle of the field, if you see a defender hovering there pre snap expect him to jump the deepest inside seam route

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties sitting deep this is your green light to attack the seams between them

Use the backside iso go route as your first read against single high or Cover 3 since the outside corner has no help over the top

Hot route the HB into a checkdown or a flat route if you are worried about a blitz off the edge since the base protection leaves him uncommitted

Pair this play in your call sheet with Curls or Stick to give the defense a shallow answer if they start rolling extra safety help to the trips side after seeing Verticals on tape

Best used on 2nd and long or as an explosive play call on early downs when you have identified single high safety rotation from film study or in game tendencies

Other Plays in Trips HB Wk