Playbooks

Levels

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

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

Run And Shoot OffenseOffenseSpread Classic

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
HB1RightPass Block
SLWRRightIn
WR1LeftSpeed Out
WR2RightShort In
SLWR2RightSpeed In

Read progression

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

Breakdown

Levels out of Shotgun Trips is a classic Cover 2 beater built on stacked in-breaking routes on the trips side. The outside receiver runs a deep dig across the middle while the slot receiver sits underneath on a shallow crossing route, creating a natural high low read against zone linebackers and safeties. The backside receiver runs a deep comeback route away from the trips concept, giving the quarterback a boundary outlet if the levels concept is covered. The offensive line pass protects in a standard drop back scheme, and the primary read progression starts with the deep dig, works down to the shallow cross, then flashes to the backside comeback if the safety jumps the levels routes.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check safety depth and leverage, if you see two high safeties rotating to Cover 2, the dig route is about to sit in the honey hole between the corner and safety. Key the flat defender post-snap, if he widens with the shallow crosser, the window for the dig opens up immediately for a big gain. Watch for a user controlled linebacker sitting in the shallow zone or spying the middle, this is the biggest threat to the shallow cross and can bait a costly interception. Against Cover 3, the deep dig has to split two defenders, if the defense rotates a safety down into the box pre-snap it signals man coverage and the dig becomes riskier against a trailing linebacker. Blitz packages that send extra rushers up the middle can collapse the pocket before the dig develops, so identify Mike or Sam blitzes pre-snap and be ready to check to the backside comeback as a quick answer.

Usage Tips

Attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells where the flat defender and deep half safety have to choose between the dig and the shallow cross, since Levels is designed to put horizontal stress on one defender.

Read the Mike linebacker pre-snap, if he is sitting in a shallow zone hook, hot route the shallow crosser into a deeper option or check into Curls to avoid a clogged underneath throwing lane.

Use this against man coverage sparingly since the dig can get picked off by a robber or lurking linebacker, but it works well when paired with Stick or Slot Drive to condition the defense to expect quick game before hitting the deeper dig.

On third and medium to long, trust the dig over the middle if the safety bites on the shallow route, it is the money throw against single high shells.

Pair Levels with RPO Alert Bubble or Bubble Screen in the same drive to keep linebackers honest on run fits, then come back to Levels once they start flowing hard to stop the perimeter game.

Other Plays in Trips