Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Verticals out of Shotgun Trips TE Offset sends four receivers vertically to stretch the field, with the backside X running a straight go route, the two inside trips receivers running seam and skinny post verticals, and the TE offset releasing on a vertical seam from the slot. The HB runs a check release swing/flare route out to the flat as a checkdown and safety valve against the blitz. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater designed to overload deep zones, with the primary read progression starting at the deep middle seam, working to the post breaking away from single high safety help, then to the backside go route on the boundary, and finally to the HB flare underneath.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment, two safeties deep signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 while one deep safety in the middle signals Cover 3 or Cover 1. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard into the seams they are keying the vertical stems and this play becomes harder to complete inside. Post-snap, identify any user-controlled lurk defender sitting in the deep middle hole, since that defender can jump the post or seam route and bait a throw into a pick six. This play is most effective against zone coverage since it stretches defenders vertically, but it is vulnerable to press man coverage with safety help over the top or a well timed blitz that collapses the pocket before routes develop. Check for disguised Cover 1 or Cover 0 blitz looks, since a hot corner blitz or nano blitz can beat the offensive line before the verticals stretch the coverage, making the HB flare your immediate outlet.
Usage Tips
Identify pre-snap whether the safeties are showing two high or one high, since this concept is built to punish both Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells by overloading the deep thirds and half zones.
Against Cover 2, target the seam route between the corner and safety before the safety can rotate over the top, and use the skinny post to split the safeties if they bite on the seam.
Against Cover 3, work the deep middle seam or post away from the single high safety since he can only account for one vertical threat, and take advantage of the natural void left by the trips alignment.
Use the HB flare as your answer versus disguised blitzes or when the pocket collapses early, it is a built in checkdown that keeps the play alive on obvious pass downs.
Pair this play with Curl Combo or Stick from the same set to keep defenses honest, running Verticals on early downs to test coverage shells before dialing up shorter combo routes once the defense commits safeties deep.
