Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Levels is a trips-side pass concept out of Shotgun Trips HB Wk that stacks two in-cutting routes at different depths to attack zone defenders horizontally. The outside receiver runs a deep dig back across the middle, the slot receiver runs a shallower crossing route underneath it, and the inline receiver releases to the flat, while the backside single receiver runs a deep comeback for a man beater outlet away from the trips bunch. The HB stays in to help protect, and the QB progression works high to low from the deep dig down to the flat, letting the coverage dictate which level opens up.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and leverage, if both safeties are shaded deep with soft cushions on the trips side, the dig route window will be there against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells. Watch the flat defender or corner at the snap, if he sinks too far to cover the underneath crosser, the dig behind him becomes the primary throw. Against man coverage, key the underneath linebacker or nickel matched on the shallow crosser, a pick-heavy release can spring him open against tight man technique. User-controlled lurk defenders sitting in the throwing lane between the two crossers can bait the QB into an interception, so respect a defender sitting in the hook zone reading the quarterback's eyes. Cover 3 with a hard-charging blitz off the edge can collapse the pocket before the dig fully develops, so account for edge pressure and have a quick check to the flat or comeback as a answer.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high shell, since Levels is built to stress Cover 2 and other zone shells that create a soft window between the linebacker and safety depth.
Read the flat defender first at the snap, if he sinks with the deep dig the underneath crosser will settle into the vacated space for an easy completion.
Use the backside comeback route as your answer versus man coverage or when the trips side is jumped by an aggressive underneath defender, since it isolates a single corner with no help.
Combine Levels with Verticals or Four Verticals from the same formation to keep linebackers honest, then come back to Levels once they start sitting on shorter routes.
Best called on second and medium or third and medium, since the crossing routes need time to develop and the sticks-based route depths line up well for manageable third down yardage.
