Playbooks

Levels

Shotgun·Trips HB Wk·10
LevelsPass PlayCover 2 BeaterInSpeed Out
Play diagram for Levels from Shotgun Trips HB Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Run And Shoot OffenseOffense

Receiver routes

Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.

See this play with a team's players
PlayerSideRoute
HB1LeftPass Block
SLWRRightIn
WR1LeftSpeed Out
WR2RightShort In
SLWR2RightSpeed In

Read progression

  1. WR1 left, Speed Out
  2. SLWR right, In or WR2 right, Short In or SLWR2 right, Speed In

Breakdown

Levels is a classic Cover 2 beater built out of Shotgun Trips HB Wk, aligning three receivers to the trips side with the HB releasing to the boundary on a checkdown. From trips, the inside receiver runs a deep dig across the middle, the slot receiver runs an out breaking dig at intermediate depth, and the outside receiver clears the top on a deep in/crosser, stacking three horizontal reads at three distinct levels. The backside X runs a comeback to hold the corner. Blocking is a standard 5 man pass protection with the HB releasing after checking the backfield, giving the QB a high low read attacking the flat to deep hook defenders on the trips side.

Defensive Reads

Read the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits shallow the deep dig from the inside trips receiver will sit in the void behind him for an easy completion. Key the flat defender and hook defender relationship on the trips side, Cover 2 shells that ask one defender to cover both levels get shredded by the high low. Watch for a user controlled safety sinking into the deep dig lane, that is the primary threat to jump the highest developing route and bait a turnover. Against man coverage, look at the corner's press or off alignment on the outside trips receiver, tight press leverage forces you to hot route rather than trust the called route. Blitz heavy defenses with only two deep defenders and a vacated middle are the easiest matchups, since the digs settle right into the vacated intermediate zone.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing Cover 2 or Cover 3 shells since Levels is designed to stretch the underneath zone defenders horizontally and vertically on the trips side.

If you see man coverage, hot route the outside trips receiver into a slant or quick out to beat off man leverage before the routes fully develop.

Use the HB check release as your outlet against pressure or when the underneath levels are jumped, especially on nano blitz looks up the middle.

Best called on second and medium to second and long or third and medium, since the levels concept needs a few beats to develop and you need room for the intermediate dig to sit down.

Pair this with Curls or Mesh Spot from the same set to keep defenses honest against both zone drop depth and man leverage, then come back to Levels once the defense over commits to jumping short routes.

Other Plays in Trips HB Wk