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Breakdown
Slot Dig Wide Corner is a five wide route concept out of Shotgun 5WR Tight with a five step drop passing scheme. The backside outside receiver runs a deep corner while the frontside outside receiver breaks off a deep out, the two slot receivers run quick option routes underneath, and the inside slot on the strongside runs a dig across the middle of the field that the play is named for. There is no run action or blocking scheme shown since all five eligible receivers are released into routes, making this a pure man and zone beater concept with the dig as the primary read against zone drops and the corner route as the built in answer against man coverage on the backside.
Defensive Reads
Check the safety alignment pre snap since single high shells invite the corner route while two high shells put more stress on the dig sitting between the hook defenders. Watch linebacker depth at the snap because shallow drops signal a chance the dig gets picked off in the shallow zone while deep drops leave the intermediate middle open for the dig to settle. User the underneath defender near the dig route to jump the throwing lane, since this is the primary read the offense wants to hit. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender can undercut the option routes from the slot receivers, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball longer and setting up coverage sacks. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the most vulnerable shell since the backside corner route has a clean angle to the sideline against trailing defenders.
Usage Tips
Read the dig first since it is the namesake route and it settles into soft spots against zone coverage while also creating natural rub separation against man coverage. If you see single high safety pre snap, prioritize the backside corner route since it attacks the void between the deep half defender and the sideline. Use the two option routes from the slot receivers as your outlet against blitz looks or when the dig and corner are covered, since they break open quickly against off coverage. This play pairs well with Mesh or Z Spot from the same set since those concepts attack underneath zones quickly and can set up defenders to bite on shorter routes before you dial up the deeper dig and corner combo. Best called on second and long or third and medium situations where the defense is more likely to sit in zone shells that the dig route is designed to exploit.
