Playbooks
Breakdown
Choice Shallow Dig aligns out of Shotgun Bunch Offset with a tight bunch to one side and a single receiver split. The bunch releases with the inside receiver running a shallow cross under the formation, the middle receiver working an option route that sits or breaks outside, and the outside receiver pushing vertically before breaking into a deep dig across the field. The backside single receiver runs a corner route stretching the sideline. This is a man beater route concept built on natural rub traffic from the bunch alignment, with the shallow cross designed to pick off man defenders while the dig and corner attack the vacated space behind them, and the primary read progresses from the shallow cross to the option route to the deep dig.
Defensive Reads
Key the flow of the shallow cross defender, if a linebacker or safety follows it across the field in man that confirms man coverage and opens the deep dig. Watch the corner over the bunch at the snap, hard outside leverage with no help over the top suggests man coverage that the rub routes will exploit. Read the middle linebacker depth, if he sits shallow and does not widen with the option route the quarterback should expect the dig to be there right behind him. Against zone shells look for the safety rotating over the dig route, if a deep half or deep third safety sinks quickly into that window the option route becomes the check down. Beware of user linebackers sitting in the shallow cross lane, a smart user defender can jump the crossing route and bait a turnover so scan the option route first if that lurk is visible post snap.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify if the defense is showing man or zone by checking corner alignment on the bunch, tight press alignment signals man coverage where the shallow cross rub becomes lethal.
Use the option route as your first hot read against zone coverage since the receiver can settle into open grass versus a zone shell.
Against man coverage let the shallow cross clear the traffic and progress to the deep dig which should be breaking open behind linebackers who bite on the shallow.
This play works best on second or third and medium since the dig needs time to develop past the sticks.
Pair this with HB Draw or Inside Zone Split from the same set to keep defenses honest on early downs, then dial up Choice Shallow Dig once linebackers start creeping up expecting run.
If the defense shows heavy blitz pre-snap, hot route the shallow cross into a quick option to give the quarterback a faster outlet against man pressure.
