Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
X Dig out of Pistol Weak Slot sends the X receiver on a deep dig that settles across the middle of the field while the inside vertical route clears out the deep middle and the outer receiver runs a corner route to hold the boundary defender. The single back releases into the flat as a check down option while the offensive line executes a standard drop back protection to buy time for the dig to develop. This is a man beater at its core, since the dig picks off man defenders trailing underneath, but it also stresses zone defenders who have to sink and wall the deep middle while covering the flat and the clear out route. The primary read progression starts with the clear out route to see if the safety bites, then works to the deep dig as the primary target, and checks down to the flat route or running back if the middle is congested.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a single high safety rotating late, this tells you the defense is in Cover 1 or Cover 3 and the dig will have a window against man or zone drops. If two safeties stay deep at the snap you are likely facing Cover 2 or Cover 4, the dig route will need to split the underneath linebackers before the safety can close. Key the middle linebacker depth, a shallow drop means he can jump the dig route so consider checking down to the flat instead of forcing the throw. Look for a user controlled defender sitting in the passing lane over the middle, this lurk threat is the biggest danger to the dig route and often bait for an interception. A delayed blitz off the edge with man coverage behind it is the best matchup for this play, since the dig clears out before pressure arrives and beats trailing defenders in man coverage.
Usage Tips
Look at the safety alignment before the snap, if you see a single high safety cheating toward the boundary the dig has room to sit down in the void behind the linebackers.
Hot route the flat route into a quick out if you see a corner blitz coming off the edge, this gives you a fast outlet before the pocket collapses.
Use this play on second and medium to second and long, the dig needs time to develop so avoid calling it on third and short where a quick game concept is better.
Pair X Dig with PA Dagger in your play calling sequence, since both plays attack the middle of the field and force linebackers to guess between run action and the deep dig.
If the defense shows Cover 3 with a hard flat defender, user your running back on the check down and let the dig sit in the soft spot behind the underneath zone.
