Playbooks

Levels Switch

Shotgun·Trey Open·11
LevelsPass PlayCover 2 Beater
Play diagram for Levels Switch from Shotgun Trey Open in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Levels Switch out of Shotgun Trey Open runs a true Levels concept on the boundary side with a switch release from the trips receivers to the strong side. The X (outside receiver on the two-man side) runs a deep dig sitting down around 15 yards while the TE on that side crosses underneath him on a shallow drag, creating a natural pick and layered read for the QB. On the trips side, the two inside receivers switch release, with one running a deep corner/flat clear and the other working an over route back across the field, while the outside receiver on that side runs a vertical stem to hold the safety. This is a zone beater built to attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 by stretching the seams horizontally at two levels, with the primary read progression starting at the deep dig, working down to the shallow drag, and finally to the crossing over route if the underneath defenders sink.

Defensive Reads

Presnap, look for two deep safeties and soft corner alignment, that Cover 2 or Cover 4 shell is exactly what this concept is built to exploit. Post snap, key the flat defender and outside linebacker on the trips side, if they widen with the switch release the underneath crossing routes open up immediately. Watch the middle linebacker or nickel defender dropping to the intermediate hook zone, a slow or shallow drop there means the dig sits down in a soft window for an easy completion. This play struggles against man coverage with press corners, since the switch release can get jammed and the crossing routes lose their natural rub advantage without picks clearing properly. Be wary of a hard Cover 3 buzz rotation, if the safety rotates down late to the trips side it can jump the over route, so be ready to check down to the shallow drag or dump it to the underneath option quickly.

Usage Tips

Use this play on second and long or third and medium when you expect zone coverage rather than man, since the layered dig to drag concept is designed to sit defenders down and throw underneath or over them.

Presnap, identify whether the corners are showing off man or bailing into zone drops, if you see two deep safeties splitting the field evenly that is your green light for a Cover 2 beater like this one.

Hot route the flat clearing receiver to a quick option if you diagnose a Cover 3 sky look, since the underneath defender vacating creates an easy pitch and catch throw.

Pair this call with Curls or Switch Z Curl earlier in a series to condition the defense to sit on shallow routes, then hit them with the deep dig once the underneath defenders start jumping the short stuff.

Against teams that show heavy Tampa 2 shells, key the middle linebacker's depth at the snap, if he sinks hard the dig window closes and you should immediately progress to the shallow drag or over route.

Other Plays in Trey Open