Playbooks

Four Verticals

Shotgun·Trips·10
Four VertsPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Four Verticals from Shotgun Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Four Verticals out of Shotgun Trips 10 personnel sends all four eligible receivers vertically up the seams and boundaries to stretch the defense from sideline to sideline. The backside X runs a clean vertical stem down the numbers, the three trips receivers stack the field with a vertical, a dig-breaking seam route, and an inside seam that climbs the middle, while the backfield stays empty to protect. This is a classic zone beater built to attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 by overloading the deep thirds and safety hash, with the primary read starting on the seam route working to the middle read before working outside to the boundary vertical.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify whether the safeties are showing two high or rotating to one high, this dictates which vertical route has the best window. Post-snap, watch the middle linebacker's drop depth, a shallow drop opens the inside seam for an easy completion before the safety can close. Look for a user controlled safety sitting in a lurk position over the seams, this is the biggest threat to the middle reads and often signals a Cover 4 match shell. Against Cover 2, target the deep half seams between the corner rolling up and the safety rotating over, the corner's flat responsibility creates a natural throwing lane. Cover 3 with aggressive corner jams at the line can disrupt route timing, if you see press alignment on the outside verticals be ready to hot route into a quicker breaking route to avoid a stalled release.

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment before the snap, two high safeties tipping Cover 2 or Cover 4 means you attack the seams between the corner and safety, one high safety means you take a shot on the backside single receiver against Cover 3.

Use the hot route to bend the inside seam receiver into a deep post if you see a single high safety cheating toward the trips side, this creates a natural window against Cover 3 rotation.

Throw with anticipation to the seam receiver at the top of his route stem, defenders sitting on zone drops will bait you into a late throw that gets picked if you hesitate.

Pair this play with Slot Corner or Stick Wheel from the same set to keep the defense honest, if they start jumping the verticals early those combo routes punish aggressive zone drops and man press.

Best used on early downs or obvious passing situations where you expect a two high shell, avoid calling this into known Cover 1 or Cover 0 pressure looks unless you have a hot route answer dialed up for the blitz.

Other Plays in Trips