Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Speed Dig Out is a bunch-based route concept out of Shotgun Bunch Spread Nasty with four receivers releasing on pass routes and the backfield left empty for protection. The bunch releases into a vertical clearout up the numbers, a deep dig breaking across the middle, a corner-breaking out route that stems outside toward the sideline, and a speed out at the top of the route to the flat, creating a natural high-low and horizontal stretch on one side of the field. This is a man beater first, using the dig and out combo to cross traffic and separate off a bunch release, though the horizontal spacing also gives it zone-beater value versus Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells. Primary read progression starts with the dig coming across the middle, then works to the corner/out breaking route, and finally to the speed out in the flat as the checkdown against a soft edge.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, key the free safety depth and alignment: a single high safety shading the bunch side signals Cover 3 or man, while two deep safeties splitting the field points to Cover 4 or Cover 2, both of which affect whether the dig or the out route will be open first. Watch the flat defender and curl/flat zone defender post-snap, since a hard flat drop takes away the speed out and forces the quarterback to work the dig and corner route instead. This concept struggles against a disciplined Cover 4 look where the corner sinks with the vertical clearout, jumps the out route, and the safety robs the dig as it crosses the middle. Look for a user-controlled linebacker sitting in the shallow hole underneath the dig, since a good lurk defender can jump the route if the quarterback stares it down without a pump or eye manipulation. Man coverage with a blitz behind it is the biggest liability, since the dig route takes time to develop and the protection can be exposed to nano blitzes or overload pressure off the edge if the offensive line loses the numbers battle.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a hot route check to identify if the defense is showing a two-high or single-high safety shell before the snap, since the dig route needs a soft middle to sit down in against zone.
Attack Cover 3 by hitting the dig on rhythm as it crosses the vacated middle hole left by the deep third defenders bailing out.
Against man coverage, trust the bunch release to create natural rub and separation for the dig and out combo, and look to the corner-breaking route if your slot defender gets picked or trailed.
Use this play on second and medium to third and medium situations where the dig sits down at the sticks and the out route gives a quick alternative against a hard blitz look.
Pair this call with Speed Dig or Mtn Slot Cross from the same set to keep the defense guessing between similar bunch releases, since disguising your route combo tendencies off the same formation puts stress on defensive keys and forces late rotations.
