Playbooks

Mtn PA Verticals

Shotgun·Wing Slot Wk·12
Play ActionFour VertsMotionPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Mtn PA Verticals from Shotgun Wing Slot Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Mtn PA Verticals is a play-action four verticals shot play out of Shotgun Wing Slot Wk with 12 personnel. Post snap the offense fakes the handoff to sell run action, and four receivers push vertically up the field in a classic four verts spread: the outside receiver on the right runs a deep vertical to the corner, the inline TE releases up the seam, the slot receiver runs a bending vertical seam route, and the backside receiver runs a deep vertical up the numbers, while a wing or attached back runs a shallow drag underneath from left to right to hold linebackers. This is a zone beater built to attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 by overloading the deep middle and outside thirds, but it also has man beater qualities since all four verts can win one on one against slower linebackers or safeties in man coverage. The primary read progression is seam to corner: read the safety over the top, work the inside seam route first against Cover 2 or Cover 3 rotation, then work to the corner route or backside vertical if the safety jumps the seam.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap check both safeties, if they are showing a two high shell this play is designed to attack the seams and corner routes in the voids of Cover 2. If the defense rotates to a single high safety post snap this indicates Cover 3, key the seam route runner since he should split the deep coverage between the corner and free safety. Watch for user controlled lurk defenders sitting in the middle of the field, a smart user will sink into the seam and jump the inside vertical route so have the corner route ready as a companion read. Identify blitz packages before the snap by checking linebacker depth and edge alignment, if the defense brings extra rushers get the ball out quickly to the shallow drag or trust the protection and let the verticals win deep. This play struggles against aggressive man coverage with safety help over the top such as Cover 1 or Cover 0 with a robber, since the verticals can be squeezed and the drag becomes the only quick answer.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you are likely facing man coverage and can attack the seam with confidence.

Hold play action long enough to sell the run fake but do not eat too much clock, this play needs time for the verticals to develop so call it on early downs or medium to long yardage situations where a sack is not fatal.

Against Cover 3 look immediately to the seam route since it splits the hole between the deep third defenders, against Cover 2 work the corner route to the deep outside void.

Use the shallow drag as a checkdown against heavy blitz looks or when the safety sits deep and takes away all four verticals.

Pair this play with Mtn Read Option or Mtn Inside Zone from the same formation to keep run action credible, then hit Mtn PA Verticals once the defense starts cheating linebackers up to stop the run.

Other Plays in Wing Slot Wk