Football Library · Plays
Levels· 6v6 Flag
intermediateaka Levels Concept
Two inside-breakers at two levels — low In (6-8) + high Dig (12-14).
The design
How Levels works
- Two crossing in-breaking routes at TWO LEVELS — low In at 6-8 yds and high Dig at 12-14 yds, both breaking inside on the same side.
- High-low stretches the underneath LB.
- LB sinks under the dig = throw the low In; LB drives short = throw the dig.
- Indianapolis Colts (Manning era) staple.
Coach the details
Every player's job
- : 7-yard in inside — drive vertical then break flat across the LBs.
- : 12-yard dig inside — vertical 12, sharp inside break, sit in the window.
- : 18-yard go — full-speed release, ball goes over the top.
- : 4-yard flat to the sideline — release flat — outlet for the QB.
- : 4-yard sit inside — settle in the void, face the QB.
Call sheet
When and where to run it
- Defensive lookManning-era staple vs man and zone-match.
- Game planHigh-low at two depths puts the corner in a bind on the deep side.
- Game planRead the conflict linebacker low-to-high: if he expands or drives the low In, throw the Dig behind him; if he gains depth, take the low route.
- Defensive lookVs man, use motion or reduced splits to create separation.
- Money downsSet the low break at the sticks on 3rd down and preserve at least four yards between the two levels.
Pre-snap to post-snap
Read the defense
Best against
- Cover 1 — Crossers and mesh — natural rubs spring a man defender
Keys to watch
- High-low at two depths puts the corner in a bind on the deep side.
- Read the conflict linebacker low-to-high: if he expands or drives the low In, throw the Dig behind him; if he gains depth, take the low route.
Be ready to change the answer
- Cover 0: Anything that develops slowly — pressure gets home first Better answers: Four Verticals, Mesh, Slant-Flat, Smash
- Cover 2: The flats — the corner squats and jumps anything quick outside Better answers: Smash,
Troubleshooting
What can break the play
- Avoid it when an underneath robber is waiting inside and a deep safety is driving the dig from above, or when edge pressure will not allow the deeper level to develop.
- Both routes break into the middle, so do not call it into a compressed interior without an outside clear or check-down.
- Routes flatten out instead of staying vertical at their landmark before the in-cut.
- QB throws the high read first; should read low-to-high — high In is the safety-valve.
- Both routes break at the same yardage; the depth differential is the entire point.