Playbooks

Levels Out

Shotgun·U Off Trips Wk·12

Out Levels Pass Play Cover 2 Beater

Play diagram for Levels Out from Shotgun U Off Trips Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetU Off Trips Wk

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 9 playbooks

Bengals OffenseOffense Franchise Offense 4thsunofoctOffense Patriots OffenseOffense Raiders OffenseOffense Titans OffenseOffense NFL Live Bengals OffenseOffense NFL Live Patriots OffenseOffense NFL Live Raiders OffenseOffense NFL Live Titans OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Levels Out is a trips-side passing concept out of Shotgun U Off Trips Wk that stacks two levels routes underneath a deep clear out route from the outermost trips receiver. The near trips receiver runs a quick out to the flat, the middle trips receiver runs an in cut that settles at the same depth as the out (creating the levels concept with the deep route stemming up top), and the backside receiver on the two receiver side runs a vertical to occupy the deep half. The primary read progression starts with the shallow out route in the flat, works to the levels in-cut breaking underneath linebackers, then climbs to the deep clear out route if the underneath defenders sink too hard. This is a zone beater designed to attack Cover 2 by stretching the flat defender horizontally while the levels in-cut settles into the void behind the underneath zone and in front of the deep half safety.

Defensive Reads

Key the flat defender first since this play is designed to put him in conflict between the out route and the levels in-cut, if he sits on the out you throw the levels window and if he jumps the in-cut you take the out route immediately. Watch the middle linebacker or nickel defender's zone drop depth, if he sinks too deep to cover the levels in-cut, that throwing window opens up right behind him for an easy completion. Check the deep half safety alignment pre-snap, if he is shaded away from the trips side or playing a single high shell, the vertical clear out route can occupy him and open more room underneath. This concept struggles against man coverage with a robber or lurk defender sitting in the shallow zone, since that extra defender can jump the levels in-cut route before it settles. Blitz packages that bring pressure off the edge can disrupt this play quickly since the quarterback needs time to read through the two levels routes, so watch for user blitzes off the trips side edge.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap identify whether the corner over the near trips receiver is playing off man or sitting in a zone drop, since this concept thrives against zone shells that leave a soft spot between the flat and the deep half.

Use this play against Cover 2 and Cover 3 looks where the flat defender has to choose between the out route and the levels in-cut, since you can layer the throw over the flat and in front of the safety.

If you see man coverage with no help over the top, hot route the deep clear out route to a dig or have your quarterback climb the levels progression faster since the out route will get squeezed by a trailing corner.

Pair this play with Dagger Sit or Mtn Stick in your call sheet so you can alternate between horizontal stretch concepts and vertical stick concepts, keeping linebackers guessing on their zone drops.

Best used on second or third and medium situations where you need to move the chains quickly, since the out route and levels in-cut both provide underneath throw windows against zone drops that sink too far off the line.