Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 13 playbooks
Breakdown
Levels out of Shotgun Doubles Hip creates a vertical stack of route depths on the strong side to overload zone coverage. The outside receiver runs a deep vertical clear-out, the slot underneath him runs a hitch to the flat area, and the inside slot receiver breaks off a square-in that settles behind the linebackers, forming the classic three-level stack read. On the backside, the tight end runs a deep dig across the middle while the running back releases into the flat, giving the quarterback a two-way go if the strong side levels concept is taken away. This is a zone beater designed to stress Cover 2 and Cover 3 by putting three defenders in conflict at different depths, with the primary read starting on the intermediate square-in and working up to the vertical clear-out route.
Defensive Reads
This concept is vulnerable to Cover 2 and Cover 3 zone shells where the flat and hook defenders cannot cover all three levels at once, so watch for a safety staying deep and a corner squatting on the hitch route. Man coverage with no safety help over the top of the vertical route is a red flag for the offense to check into a different play, since the levels stack loses its natural rub advantage against tight man technique. As the defense, get depth on the deep vertical route immediately to prevent a bust over the top before worrying about the intermediate crossers. Watch for the offensive linebacker or nickel defender sinking into the square-in window, since a well timed zone drop into that throwing lane can bait an interception. A disguised blitz that brings extra pressure off the edge can beat this play before the levels concept fully develops, so user the closest linebacker to jump the underneath hitch as a lurk defender.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the safeties are showing two-high or rotating to single-high, since this concept is built specifically to gash Cover 2 corners who squat on the flat route.
Key the flat defender first: if he sits on the underneath hitch, throw the square-in behind him for a chunk gain over the middle.
Use the vertical clear-out route to hold the deep safety, opening up the intermediate window for the square-in route against zone drops.
On third and medium situations, pair this with Bench HB Angle earlier in the drive to get linebackers biting on run action, which widens the throwing lane for the levels concept.
If the defense starts sitting on the intermediate routes after repeated reps, dial up PA Go Slot Cross from the same formation to hit the same coverage shell with play-action verticals instead.
