Playbooks

Verticals

Shotgun·Trips TE Offset Wk·11
Four VertsPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 BeaterDeep CrossCrosserFadeFlatOutStreak
Play diagram for Verticals from Shotgun Trips TE Offset Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

Verticals from Trips TE Offset Wk sends the trips side into a four vertical stretch, with the two outside receivers running straight seams up the numbers and the inside slot receiver breaking into a deep post from the middle of the field. The TE releases outside then climbs vertically as the fourth deep threat, while the backside X runs a shallow drag underneath to hold linebackers and give the quarterback a check down against heavy coverage. Blocking is a standard shotgun pass protection look with the back available to chip or leak out late, and the primary read progresses from the post working to the far seam before checking down to the drag.

Defensive Reads

Read the safeties at the snap, if both safeties bail deep and stay split you are likely facing Cover 2 or Cover 4 and the seams between the numbers and the post will be the throwing lanes. If one safety rotates down into the box post-snap, that is Cover 3 or Cover 1, and the post from the slot receiver into the vacated middle of the field becomes the primary target. Watch the flow of the linebackers, if they sink hard with the verticals it opens the shallow drag underneath for an easy checkdown against soft zone drops. Beware of Cover 2 with an aggressive user controlled deep safety who can jump the post route, so hold the throw an extra beat and let the far seam or TE vertical clear if you see the safety cheating over the top. Man coverage with press corners on the outside can disrupt the timing of the seam routes, so key the cornerback alignment pre-snap and be ready to throw with anticipation before the receiver separates.

Usage Tips

Use this play on early downs or obvious passing situations where you expect two deep safeties, since the four verticals stress both safeties equally and force one to declare late.

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing a two high shell or single high, because against single high the post from the slot receiver becomes the money route through the middle of the field.

Hot route the backside drag into a deeper dig or comeback if you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, this turns the underneath outlet into an explosive man beater.

Pair this play with Switch Dagger or PA Verts Shot in your call sheet to keep defenses guessing between the vertical stretch and intermediate breaking combos out of the same trips look.

Against blitz heavy defenses, use the TE vertical release as a quick outlet since he often sits in a natural void created by the four verticals pulling linebackers and safeties deep.

Other Plays in Trips TE Offset Wk