Playbooks

Speed Dig

Shotgun·Bunch Spread Nasty·11
DigPass Play
Play diagram for Speed Dig from Shotgun Bunch Spread Nasty in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 8 playbooks

Colts OffenseOffenseDolphins OffenseOffenseJaguars OffenseOffenseSeahawks OffenseOffenseNFL Live Colts OffenseOffenseNFL Live Dolphins OffenseOffenseNFL Live Jaguars OffenseOffenseNFL Live Seahawks OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Speed Dig comes out of Bunch Spread Nasty in Shotgun and attacks the middle of the field with a true dig route from the bunch alignment, breaking hard across the field at intermediate depth. The two outside receivers push vertical releases that turn into deep comebacks, stretching the corners and safeties to open the throwing lane for the dig, while the backside receiver runs a corner route to hold the safety over the top. The HB releases up into a check release route out of the backfield, giving the quarterback a fifth option underneath if the middle gets muddied. This is a man beater first, since the dig sits down against man leverage, but the double comeback concept also punishes cover 3 and cover 4 shells that try to squeeze the underneath throws. Primary progression starts with the dig coming across the middle, then works to the backside corner route if a safety cheats down, and checks down to the HB release if the underneath defenders sink deep enough.

Defensive Reads

Read the free safety depth at the snap, since a single high safety who bites on the play action or run fake opens up the dig route immediately. Watch the cornerbacks on the outside comeback routes, because if they sink too deep off the line, the underneath dig window collapses against a sitting linebacker. Key the middle linebacker or nickel defender responsible for the dig lane, since a defender who widens with the flow can jump the route for a big hit or interception. Look for blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge, since this leaves the HB check release wide open as a quick answer against man pressure. Beware of cover 2 or cover 4 shells with disciplined safeties, since they can rob the dig from depth while the corners squeeze the comeback routes, forcing a checkdown to the HB.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a hot route audible on the HB check release to turn it into a quick outlet if you see linebackers showing blitz off the edge.

Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, since the dig sits in the honey hole against single high looks and the comeback routes punish two high shells that bail late.

Attack cover 3 and cover 4 defenses by timing the throw to the dig just as it crosses the opposite hash, before the flow of the zone defenders can close the window.

Pair Speed Dig with Cheat Slot Cross or Mtn Slot Cross earlier in a drive so the defense respects the shallow crossing concepts, then hit them with the deeper dig once linebackers start jumping underneath routes.

Save this play for second and medium or third and medium situations where the defense is more likely to sit in zone drops rather than send extra pressure, since the dig needs time to develop.

Other Plays in Bunch Spread Nasty