Playbooks

Levels Sail

Shotgun·Trips TE Flex·11
LevelsSailPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Levels Sail from Shotgun Trips TE Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Levels Sail runs out of Shotgun Trips TE Flex with the trips side stacking two levels routes underneath (a shallow flat route and a deeper in-breaking crosser) while the third trips receiver climbs vertically up the seam before breaking to the corner. The isolated receiver on the backside runs a sail route combo, releasing outside to a deep flag route while the flexed TE underneath him works a corner route from the numbers. This is a zone beater designed to stretch Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells horizontally and vertically at the same time, and the read progression starts with the deep corner route on the backside sail before working back to the levels concept underneath on the trips side.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high look, since this play is built to exploit both Cover 2 and Cover 3 zone drops. Post-snap, watch the flat defender on the trips side, if he sinks with the deeper levels route the shallow route underneath will be wide open for a quick pitch and catch. User the deep third or deep half defender on the backside sail concept, since a lurking user controlled safety can jump the corner route and turn it into a turnover. This play struggles against aggressive man blitzes because the levels concept takes time to develop, so if you see a nano blitz look pre-snap consider checking down or sliding protection. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, shallow dropping linebackers can undercut the underneath levels routes, so be ready to climb the ladder to the deeper crosser if the flat is jumped.

Usage Tips

Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties sitting deep this is a prime Cover 2 beater because the levels concept will pick apart the underneath zone drops and the sail route on the backside attacks the corner's flat responsibility.

Against Cover 3, key the deep third defender on the trips side, if he widens with the vertical route the underneath levels routes will settle into the voided zone for an easy completion.

Use hot routes to convert the backside corner route into a fade if you are facing man coverage with a smaller corner, this gives your QB a one on one shot on the outside.

This play pairs well with Verticals or Y Out N Up in your play calling sequence because it forces defenders to respect the deep shots off the same trips look, opening up the levels concept underneath later in the drive.

Best called on second and long or third and medium situations where you need a chunk gain and defenses are more likely to sit in zone shells rather than bring pressure.

Other Plays in Trips TE Flex