Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Levels is a trips-side stacked pass concept out of Shotgun Empty Trips Speed that isolates the deep and intermediate windows on one side of the field. The outside receiver runs a deep dig across the middle while the middle trips receiver runs an underneath crossing route, creating a layered high-low stretch on any single defender sitting in the passing lane. On the backside, the lone receiver runs a deep in-cut breaking away from the trips side, giving the QB a true two-way go if the defense overloads the strength call. The primary read starts with the deep dig from the trips side working to the underneath crosser, then works backside to the deep in if the levels concept is capped.
Defensive Reads
Identify single-high safety alignment pre-snap since Levels is designed to exploit any defense without a second deep defender helping over the top of the dig. Watch the flat defender on the trips side after the snap, if he sinks with the crosser the window opens for the deep dig behind him. Beware Cover 3 sink zones where the middle linebacker or safety can rob the dig route, this coverage shell shuts down the primary read. Look for corner blitzes or nano blitzes off the trips side edge, since the underneath crosser can be picked off quickly by a user-controlled defender sitting in that lane. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the most vulnerable shell, the dig route will separate against trail technique almost every time.
Usage Tips
Check the middle of the field pre-snap because Levels punishes any single-high safety look that leaves the dig route uncovered.
Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells, key the flat defender and hi-lo the underneath crosser against the deep dig to force a coverage conflict.
Use hot routes to slide the backside receiver into a quick out if you see a corner playing tight man, giving you an instant answer against blitz-heavy calls.
This play works best on 2nd and medium or 3rd and long since it takes a full progression read to develop through the levels concept.
Pair this call with Mtn WR Angle or Whip Unders in your play-calling sequence so the defense has to respect both the vertical levels stretch and quick underneath answers off the same empty trips look.
