Playbooks
Raiders Vertical
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Raiders Vertical is a four verts based quick pass concept out of Singleback Wing Pair with 13 personnel on the field. Both outside receivers and the TE off the wing run vertical seams down the field, the slot runs a drag underneath crossing the formation left to right, and the HB releases from the backfield on a shallow drag to the flat. This is a classic Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater built to attack the deep middle void or the seams outside the hash, with the primary read progressing from the two seam routes to the vertical shots up the numbers before checking down to the drag or HB flat if the deep windows are closed.
Defensive Reads
Identify two deep safeties pre-snap, that alignment signals Cover 2 and tells you the seam throws need to split the hash before the safety can drive If you see one high safety rotate late, that is Cover 3 or Cover 1 match, target the seam away from the rotation since the corner playing deep third cannot cover both vertical stems Watch the middle linebacker's depth at the snap, if he drops fast into the deep middle hole he is squeezing the seam read and you should reset to the drag or HB flat User controlled defenders sitting in the deep middle zone or robbing the seam window is the biggest disqualifier for this play, if you see a user lurking there check down immediately Man coverage from off corners at the snap opens up quick separation on the seams, but tight press corners with safety help over the top can disrupt this play with poor timing
Usage Tips
Take a pre-snap look at the safeties before the snap, if both are deep at 10 to 12 yards you are likely staring at Cover 2 or Cover 3 and the seams will be your bread and butter read
Against single high shells, work the seam route away from the deep third defender's leverage since he can only rob one side
Use the HB drag and slot drag as your answer versus zone blitzes or Cover 0, they release quick and give you a hot throw before pressure arrives
Pair this play with Y Stick or Spacing earlier in a drive to bait linebackers into sitting shallow, then come back to Raiders Vertical to hit the seams over the top once they bite
On third and long, trust the outside verts against man coverage since your wing TE can win vertically against slower linebackers or safeties in man match
