Playbooks
Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.
| Player | Side | Route |
|---|---|---|
| HB1 | Left | Pass Block |
| SLWR | Right | In |
| WR1 | Left | Option Route |
| WR2 | Right | In |
| SLWR2 | Right | Speed In |
Levels out of Shotgun Wide Trips HB WK is a classic stacked-in route concept that stresses zone defenders horizontally while giving man coverage a natural rub. The trips side runs a layered combo of in-breaking routes at different depths (a shallow dig, a deeper dig or crosser, and a underneath option) that create a high-low, inside-out read for the quarterback, while the backside typically offers a single receiver on a vertical or comeback to hold the safety honest. The HB stays in to check release or works a shallow flat check-down, and the primary read progresses from the shortest in-breaking route to the deeper dig based on the flow of the linebackers and the depth of the underneath zone defenders.
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment over the trips side, since a two-high shell with soft corners signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 zone that Levels can exploit with the horizontal stretch Watch the middle linebacker's initial drop after the snap, because if he sinks deep to cover the dig, the underneath crosser will be wide open for an easy completion Identify Cover 3 sink from the flow of the strong safety, since Levels is designed to hit the seam between the underneath zone defender and the deep third defender Beware of a Cover 1 or Cover 0 blitz with a user-controlled linebacker spying the shallow crosser, as this play struggles against tight man coverage combined with an extra rusher jumping the underneath route If the defense shows a two-deep shell with press corners on the outside, respect the sideline threat but attack the natural rub created by the stacked in-breaking routes to beat man coverage
Read the middle linebacker and the underneath zone defenders before the snap to confirm this is a favorable Cover 2 or Cover 3 look, since Levels thrives against zone shells that leave horizontal seams open
If you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, hot route the backside single receiver into a slant or quick out to punish a blitz look and speed up your read
Progress your eyes from the shortest crossing route to the deeper dig, throwing the underneath route first against Cover 3 sink and climbing to the deeper in-breaking route if the shallow defender sits
Use this play on second and medium to second and long situations where defenses are more likely to sit in zone shells and give you the natural window between levels
Pair this with HB Angle Screen or Quick Slants from the same set to keep defenses honest on the perimeter, then come back to Levels once you bait linebackers into overplaying quick game