Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Levels from Shotgun Wing Stack is a classic Cover 2 beater built on a stacked route concept to one side of the field. The outside receiver runs a deep in breaking route while the slot receiver sits underneath on a shallow crossing route, creating a two-level stretch on the same flat defender or zone dropper. On the other side, the tight end releases vertically up the seam while the running back checks out of the backfield into a flat route, giving the quarterback a five man read progression from high to low. This is a true zone beating concept, though the crossing routes underneath also stress man coverage defenders who have to fight through traffic.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, look for two safeties deep since that Cover 2 or Cover 4 shell is exactly what this levels concept is designed to exploit with the underneath and deep in route combo. Watch the flat defender and curl to flat zone defender after the snap, if they sink too deep with the shallow crosser the deep in route will be wide open behind them. Man coverage with no help over the top can be a problem for the quarterback since the crossing routes create natural rubs, but a linebacker with underneath zone responsibility and good eyes can undercut the shallow route if the quarterback stares it down. Blitz heavy fronts with man coverage on the back end are the counter to this play since the running back's flat route becomes the only true answer against pressure. Watch for a robber or lurking defender sitting in the shallow zone between the hash marks, that user controlled defender can jump the shallow crosser and turn it into a turnover if the quarterback does not go through the full progression.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing a two high shell before the snap since this play is designed to attack Cover 2 and Cover 4 zone drops with the levels stretch. If the corner sinks with the deep in route, hit the shallow crosser underneath for an easy completion and yards after catch. Use the seam route from the tight end as a hot read versus single high safety looks where the middle of the field is open. Motion the running back or use a hot route to adjust the flat route into a check release if you are getting pressure looks up front. Pair this play with Mesh Spot or Ohio Spacing in your call sheet so you can attack both man and zone coverage without changing personnel, keeping the defense guessing between crossing shallow concepts and levels stretches.
