Playbooks

Levels Out

Shotgun·Trey Y-Flex·11
OutLevelsPass PlayCover 2 Beater
Play diagram for Levels Out from Shotgun Trey Y-Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

Levels Out is the signature Cover 2 beater out of Trey Y-Flex, and the diagram shows a true levels concept stacked to the trey side with a deep out breaking outside from the flexed slot. The bottom X runs a quick out to the flat, the TE runs a shallow crosser sitting underneath, and the inside receiver climbs a deep vertical seam splitting the coverage, while the boundary receiver on the backside runs a corner route working outside vertically. The blocking is pass protection with the backfield staying in to pick up any pressure, and the primary read progression starts with the deep seam route attacking the middle of the field before working down to the underneath levels crosser and out route based on the linebacker and safety flow.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check safety depth and width, since a two high shell that stays static after the snap is the biggest red flag that this concept will work. Post-snap, watch the flat defender or cornerback on the trey side, if he sinks with the out route the underneath crosser will be wide open behind him. Watch for a robber or lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field, since a user controlled defender there can jump the deep seam route and bait a bad throw. Cover 3 with a hard sinking cornerback and an active middle linebacker can take away both the seam and the crosser, forcing the quick out to be the only outlet. Man coverage with a blitz can be dangerous, so identify if the backfield stays in protection and check the boundary corner route as a quick answer against man beaters.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two high safeties, since Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells are where this concept shines the most.

If the defense shows single high, consider hot routing the deep seam route into a slant or checking to a run play in the set like Same Side Zone or HB Draw instead.

Use the levels concept on the trey side to attack zone dropping linebackers, reading the flat defender first to determine if the out route or the underneath crosser is open.

This play works best on second and medium to third and medium situations where the defense is likely to sit in zone coverage rather than blitz.

Pair this play with Levels Y Corner or Empty Y Cross in your play calling sequence to keep defenders guessing between the out breaking route and the corner route from a similar formation look.

Other Plays in Trey Y-Flex