Playbooks
Verticals X Shallow
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
Verticals X Shallow lines up out of Shotgun Trips X Nasty with 11 personnel and sends four vertical stems with one shallow crossing route underneath. The backside X runs a shallow cross all the way through the formation, the two inside trips receivers push vertical seams while the outside trips receiver bends a vertical to the corner, and the TE or attached receiver runs a deep vertical up the numbers. This is a classic Four Verts shell beater built to stress Cover 2 and Cover 3 by overloading the deep zones while the shallow cross gives you a built-in answer versus man coverage and underneath zone drops. Primary read progression starts with the shallow cross for a quick access throw, then climbs to the seams and finally the deep outside vertical if the safeties bite on the shallow or the corner window opens.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, identify two high safeties versus one high, this dictates whether you attack the seams or the deep vertical on the trips side. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard to cover the seams the shallow cross will be wide open behind them for an easy pickup. Track the user controlled defender post snap, if he flies to the shallow cross to make a jump play the seam or vertical route he vacated. Man coverage on the trips receivers with no safety help over the top is a green light to go straight to the deep vertical, especially against Cover 1 or Cover 0 blitz looks. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender can squeeze the shallow cross window, so be ready to climb the ladder to the intermediate seam if the underneath throw is not there immediately.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap, two high safeties tell you this is a strong Cover 2 or Cover 4 beater so prioritize the seam routes attacking the honey hole between the corner and safety.
If you see one high safety rotate down or a Cover 3 shell, look immediately to the deep vertical on the trips side since the corner is often isolated with no safety help over the top.
Use the shallow cross as your check down and rhythm throw against zone blitzes or when the defense shows man coverage with no safety help, it clears out underneath and picks up yards after the catch versus lurking linebackers.
Pair this play with Snag Slot Digs or Quick Unders earlier in a drive so the defense respects the short game, then hit them with Verticals X Shallow to punish aggressive linebacker and safety flow.
Best called on down and distance where a big play is in scope, second and long or first down shots, since the four verts concept takes time to develop and the shallow cross needs room to operate after the catch.
