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Breakdown
Levels Switch is a Cover 2 beater out of Shotgun Trips Slots Close that runs a levels concept with a switch release from the trips side. The two inside trips receivers cross paths at the snap before both breaking back toward the middle at different depths, stacking a deep in and a shallow in on top of each other to overload one zone, while the backside X on the isolated side runs a corner route breaking outside toward the sideline. The primary read progression starts with the deep levels route sitting behind the linebackers, works down to the shorter in-breaking route underneath if the deep window is closed, and finally looks to the backside corner route if the levels combo is jumped.
Defensive Reads
This concept is built to exploit Cover 2 and Cover 3 zones where the flat defender and deep half safety cannot cover both levels of the crossing routes. Watch the strong side safety pre-snap, if he is rotating down into the box it signals single high coverage and the corner route on the backside becomes the priority throw. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker and hook defender, if they widen with the switch release the shallow in-breaking route opens immediately underneath. This play struggles against man coverage with a deep lurking safety, since the switch release can get picked off at the line and the levels routes get squeezed by trailing defenders. A disguised blitz that brings extra pressure off the edge before the switch release clears will collapse the pocket before the deep levels route has time to sit down in the window.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, look for two high safeties and off corners on the trips side to confirm Cover 2 or Cover 4 leanings before snapping.
Hot route the backside X into a hitch or slant if the corner is playing tight man press, since the corner route can get jammed at the line.
Use this play on second and medium to third and long where the deep levels window has time to develop against zone drops.
Combine Levels Switch with 45 Quick Base or RNS Hitches earlier in a series to bait linebackers into sitting shallow, then hit the deep in behind them once they cheat up.
Watch the middle linebacker depth after the snap and if he sinks deep into the levels window, check down to the shallow crossing route immediately instead of forcing the deep throw.
