Verticals X Shallow

Pre snap, look for two deep safeties splitting the field evenly which signals Cover 2 and tells you the seam routes have a soft spot to work with between the corner and safety Post snap, watch for the deep safety in a single high look rotating to the trips side, this indicates Cover 3 and means the post or seam route away from rotation is your best shot Identify user controlled defenders sitting in the shallow zone or spying the middle, this lurk threat can jump the shallow cross route and turn it into a turnover if you force it Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they show blitz or crash downhill this play punishes them since the verticals and shallow both attack space behind an aggressive front seven This play struggles against a disciplined Cover 4 shell with deep quarters help since four defenders can match the four vertical releases, look to check into a shorter route or use the shallow as a checkdown against that shell