Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Verticals out of Singleback Toad X Nasty is a Four Verts concept designed to attack both Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells vertically. The outside receiver runs a deep vertical up the sideline, the slot receiver runs a vertical that breaks into a deep in over the middle, the tight end releases up the seam, and the third receiver runs a straight vertical up the numbers, while the HB checks down to the flat as the outlet. The primary read progression starts with the seam route against the safety, works to the deep in from the slot if the safety widens, and comes back down to the HB flat route as the checkdown if everything is capped deep.
Defensive Reads
Look for two safeties at depth pre-snap, which usually means Cover 2 and opens the deep in route from the slot receiver as the primary window. A single high safety pre-snap indicates Cover 3, so key the curl/flat defender's depth and throw the seam or vertical the moment he sinks or widens. Watch for a user-controlled safety sitting in the middle of the field trying to rob the seam route, since that lurk threat is the biggest danger to this concept and should push you to the sideline vertical instead. If the defense shows Cover 4 or a two high shell with corners playing off, expect the verticals to be capped and rely on the HB flat route as the checkdown against underneath zone drops. Blitz-heavy fronts with man coverage behind them get exposed by the seam and vertical routes running through vacated zones, so identify pressure pre-snap and get through your progression fast before the pocket collapses.
Usage Tips
Take a pre-snap look at the safeties. Two deep safeties sitting at 10 to 12 yards signals Cover 2 and tells you to work the deep in route from the slot into the void between the corner and safety.
One high safety in the middle of the field means Cover 3, so key the flat defender and throw the seam route or outside vertical if he widens to the flat.
If you see man coverage with linebackers walked up on the tight end, hot route the tight end to a quick option or drag to punish the mismatch instead of forcing the seam.
Use this on early downs or in two minute situations when you need an explosive play, since it stresses every level of the defense and forces the deep defenders to choose.
Pair this with Mtn PA Boot Insert Cross or PA Post Dig from the same set so the defense has to respect both the vertical stretch and the play action off similar formation looks, keeping linebackers honest and slowing down their run fits.
