Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Levels Switch out of Shotgun Trey Open HB Str is a classic Cover 2 beater built off a switch release from the trips side. The two inside receivers cross paths at the snap, with the shallow man sitting his in route underneath while the deep man works a long crossing route from the opposite hash all the way across the field at intermediate depth, stacking the levels concept vertically and horizontally. The backside X runs a skinny post/dig that stems inside, giving the quarterback a three-level flood read from the trips side while the HB stays in to help protect. Primary read progression starts with the deep crosser working away from the switch release, then works down to the underneath in route, and finally to the backside dig if the levels concept gets clogged by a zone drop.
Defensive Reads
Read the safety depth pre-snap, since two-high shells with safeties sitting at 8 to 10 yards are the primary target of this levels concept. Watch for a Cover 3 sky or buzz rotation post-snap, since a robber defender sitting in the middle of the field can undercut the deep crossing route before it develops. Key the linebacker depth at the snap, since this play is designed to punish linebackers who drop too shallow and leave the levels window open behind them. If the defense shows man coverage with the corner aligned tight on the switch release side, expect a natural pick to spring the receiver open against man matchups. Watch for a user-controlled defender flying downhill on the underneath in route, since that lurk threat is the biggest post-snap indicator that the defense recognizes the levels concept and is sitting on the shallow read.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two-high or single-high, since this concept is designed to attack Cover 2 and Cover 4 zones where the levels stretch a linebacker or safety vertically.
If the corner presses the switch release receivers, hot route the shallow in route to a quicker option or expect a natural pick since the switch release forces defenders to work through traffic.
Use this play on second and medium to third and long, since the deep crosser needs time to develop and the levels concept benefits from a clean pocket.
Pair this play with RPO Zone Alert Smoke or RPO Alert Smoke earlier in a drive to get defenders keying run fits, then come back to Levels Switch to hit the crosser in space once linebackers start creeping up.
Against man coverage, look immediately to the switch release, since the natural pick at the top of the route often forces a coverage bust or hesitation from man defenders trying to pass off assignments.
