Playbooks

Four Verticals

Shotgun·Wing Slot Wk·12
Four VertsPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Four Verticals from Shotgun Wing Slot Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 13 playbooks

Franchise College Spread OffenseOffenseBalanced Pass OffenseOffenseEagles OffenseOffenseJaguars OffenseOffenseJets OffenseOffenseRaiders OffenseOffenseSuperstar HB AgileSuperstar HB BruiserSuperstar HB ReceivingNFL Live Eagles OffenseOffenseNFL Live Jaguars OffenseOffenseNFL Live Jets OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Four Verticals out of Shotgun Wing Slot Wk sends both outside receivers and the two inline tight ends vertically up the field, stretching the defense from sideline to sideline with four deep stems. The backside tight end runs a shallow drive route underneath while the fullback or running back releases into a check release flat route, giving the QB an outlet if the deep shots are covered. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater designed to attack the seams between deep zone defenders, with the primary read starting on the seam routes from the tight ends before working outside to the boundary verticals.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check safety depth and width, since deep safeties sitting inside the numbers or cheating to one side signal Cover 2 or Cover 3 rotation that this concept is built to exploit. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, since shallow drops into the seams will clog the tight end verticals and force the quarterback to hold the ball longer. Man coverage with press corners and no deep help is the worst matchup for the defense here, since the receivers can win vertically before a single high safety can rotate over. If the defense shows a nano blitz or heavy pressure look with only one deep defender, expect the quarterback to check down quickly to the flat route rather than push the ball deep. User controlled lurk defenders sitting in the middle of the field are the biggest threat to this play, since they can jump the inside seam if the quarterback stares it down too long.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify whether the safeties are showing two high or rotating to single high, since this concept thrives against two deep shells with soft seams. Against Cover 2, target the seam tight ate routes before the safeties can get over the top, and against Cover 3, look to the boundary verticals to attack the flat defender's deep third. Use hot routes to convert the backside tight end into a deeper crossing route if you anticipate heavy underneath traffic from linebackers sitting in the seams. Call this on early downs or obvious pass downs when you expect a two high shell, and pair it in a sequence with RPO Peek Post or RPO Glance Post to keep defenses honest on run fits before hitting them with the vertical shots. Save it as a home run shot on third and long once you have set up the defense with shorter route combos like Slant Stick or Smash.

Other Plays in Wing Slot Wk