Playbooks

Levels Mills

Shotgun·Normal Off Close Wk·11

Levels Mills Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 4 Beater

Play diagram for Levels Mills from Shotgun Normal Off Close Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetNormal Off Close Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 4 playbooks

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Breakdown

Levels Mills is a pass concept out of Shotgun Normal Off Close Wk that stacks two levels routes on the left with a deep mills route on the right. The X receiver runs an in-breaking route to the flat area, the slot runs a corner-breaking in route sitting behind him creating a natural levels stack read, while the TE releases from the tight side up the seam and breaks into a deep post to complete the mills combo with the Y route. The RB checks out of the backfield on a swing route to the flat for a checkdown against pressure. This is a zone beater built to stress Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells, with the primary read progressing from the underneath levels stack to the deep post if the safety bites on the shallow crossers.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check for two-high safety shells like Cover 2 or Cover 4, this play is designed specifically to attack those coverages by stacking routes at different depths on the same side. Post-snap, watch the flat defender and underneath linebacker drops, if they widen or sink to take away the levels stack the post route behind them will be wide open. Key the deep safety on the levels side, if he cheats down to help on the underneath routes the mills post will split the defense for a big play. Watch for a user-controlled defender sitting in the passing lane or spying the levels stack, this indicates the user is jumping the shallow crossers and leaving the post uncovered. This play struggles against man coverage with no help over the top, if you see Cover 0 or Cover 1 with press corners the levels stack will get clogged and you should be ready to check down to the RB swing quickly.

Usage Tips

Identify the safety shell before the snap, if you see two deep safeties or four deep defenders sitting off the ball this concept is designed to exploit the seams they leave underneath and over the top.

Work the levels stack first, the underneath in-cut route will be open quickly against Cover 2 if the corner sinks or the linebacker widens, giving you a rhythm throw before the post has time to develop.

If the deep safety cheats toward the levels side, come off it and hit the post route on a rope, this is the explosive play against Cover 4 when the safety bites on the shallow crossers.

Use the RB swing as your checkdown versus a delayed blitz or when the interior pressure collapses the pocket before the levels concept develops.

Pair this with Slants or RPO Peek Slant earlier in a drive to condition the defense to sink underneath, then hit this play to attack the void those quick throws create over the middle.