Playbooks

Shock Levels

Shotgun·Empty Base Trio·11
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Spread Classic

Breakdown

Shock Levels is a levels-based passing concept out of empty formation designed to attack zone coverage with stacked horizontal reads at different depths. The concept features an intermediate in-breaking route working underneath a deeper crossing route, creating a natural high-low read for the quarterback against zone drops, while the backside typically holds a shorter option to hold linebackers or provide a quick outlet. Since this is out of Empty Base Trio, there is no running back in the backfield to check down to, so the primary read progression starts with the levels concept to the trips side, working from the shallow route up to the deeper crosser based on linebacker and safety leverage.

Defensive Reads

Cover 3 and Cover 4 zone shells are the primary weakness of this concept since the levels stagger is designed to find soft spots between the underneath zone and the deep zone defenders. Watch the middle linebacker drop at the snap, if he sinks deep to cover the crosser, the shallow in-cut route will be sitting open underneath him. Man coverage with no help over the top is a tougher matchup for this concept since there are no true man beaters built in without a hot route adjustment, so check the corner alignment before the snap. Blitz-heavy Cover 0 and Cover 1 looks with press corners can get to the quarterback quickly since Empty Base Trio has no back to check down to, so identify the extra rusher and get the ball out on time. Watch for a user-controlled linebacker sitting in the shallow passing lane, since that lurk defender can jump the underneath route and bait the quarterback into a turnover if the deeper crosser is not clearly progressed to.

Usage Tips

Presnap identify whether the defense is showing zone or man leverage on the trips side, since this concept is built to punish zone drops with the levels stagger. If corners are pressed up with no safety help over the top, hot route the deepest route on the trips side into a quick out or slant to beat man coverage before the levels routes have time to develop. Use this on second and medium to third and short situations where linebackers are more likely to sit in shallow zone drops and get caught in the passing lanes. Combine this with Slants or All Curl from the same set to keep defenders honest on shorter zone drops, then come back to Shock Levels once you have seen the defense commit to jumping quick routes. Against teams that like to disguise coverage with late safety rotation, hold your eyes on the middle linebacker post snap since his drop depth tells you which level of the concept is open.

Other Plays in Empty Base Trio