Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Verticals out of Shotgun Trips HB Wk sends all three trips receivers vertical, with the outermost trips receiver breaking off into a deep out or corner-ish comeback at the top of his stem while the two inside trips receivers push straight up the seams. The backside X runs a solo vertical up the numbers, and the HB releases into a check release flare out of the backfield as the only underneath outlet. This is a classic Four Verts shell beater built to attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 by stressing the deep safeties horizontally, with the primary read progression going from the two inside seam verticals first, then to the backside solo vertical, and finally checking down to the HB release if the top of the defense is not cleared.
Defensive Reads
Man coverage defenses with no safety help over the top get exposed quickly since all four vertical stems clear the underneath zones and isolate corners deep. Cover 2 shells are stressed because the two deep safeties cannot account for three vertical threats plus the backside solo route without a natural bracket breaking down. Watch for a user controlled safety sitting in a lurk position over the inside seams, since that defender can jump the seam route if the quarterback stares it down too long. Cover 3 with a deep middle safety is vulnerable if the corners get beat on vertical releases, but disciplined zone drops and a fast middle linebacker sinking under the seams can take away the easy completion. Blitz packages that send extra rushers will speed up the quarterback's clock, so watch for man beater blitzes since the HB check release becomes critical as a checkdown against pressure.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap identify two-high versus one-high safety alignment because this concept is designed to split the difference between deep defenders in Cover 2 and overload the middle third in Cover 3.
If you see a single high safety, prioritize the seam routes since the safety cannot cover both inside verticals, and if you see two high safeties, work the backside solo vertical against a corner in soft coverage.
Hot route the HB release into a deeper option route if you are facing zone heavy defenses that sit their linebackers in the shallow throwing lanes.
Use this play on second and long or third and long situations where a defense may drop into a deep zone shell expecting a shorter conversion route.
Pair this with Curls or Dbl Comeback from the same set to keep the defense honest, since both concepts start with similar trips releases but attack different depths, forcing linebackers and safeties to hesitate on their drops.
