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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
Verts Dig out of Shotgun Bunch Str Offset lines up three receivers in a tight bunch to the strong side with an isolated receiver alone on the backside. At the snap the backside receiver runs a lone vertical seam while the bunch releases into four verticals total, with one bunch receiver working an over route that breaks flat across the field behind the underneath zones, and the flex bunch receiver bending outward on a corner style vertical to occupy the sideline. This is a pass play built as a Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater, stressing the deep middle and outside thirds with vertical stems before the crosser sits down in the void, and the primary read progression starts with the backside vert against single coverage, moves to the deep middle seam, and comes back to the underneath dig or crosser if the safety bites on the verticals.
Defensive Reads
Watch the safety rotation before the snap, if both safeties stay deep and split the field it is showing Cover 2, which means the seam and corner verticals will stretch the hash and sideline for a big play window. If you see one safety rotate to the deep middle post snap, that is Cover 3, and the backside isolated vertical becomes the top read since the corner is often working alone with no safety help over the top. Man coverage shells are exposed by the crossing route sitting down after the initial stem, so if the linebackers or nickel are locked in man and trailing verticals, look for the shallow crosser to come open in the void. User controlled lurk defenders sitting in the intermediate middle can jump the crossing route, so if you see a defender sink into that area post snap, work the outside vertical or the backside seam instead. This concept struggles against disguised two high shells that roll into a Cover 4 or Cover 6 look after the snap, since extra defenders over the top can take away both the seam and the corner verticals simultaneously.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the safeties are showing two high or rotating to single high, since this concept is designed to attack the seams in Cover 2 and the deep thirds in Cover 3.
If the defense shows Cover 2, key the corner on the isolated backside receiver first because that vertical stem will win over the top if the safety cheats to the bunch side.
Use the crossing route as your answer against zone drops when the linebackers sink deep, since it settles into the void left by underneath defenders chasing the verticals.
On third and long or in two minute situations, this play is a strong call because it forces the defense to defend four verticals plus a late breaking crosser, giving you answers versus both zone and man shells.
Pair this play with Mtn Stick or Slant Spacing from the same set to keep the defense honest on quick underneath throws, then dial up Verts Dig once you see linebackers sitting low in zone coverage.
