Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Speed Dig Out is a bunch-based passing concept out of Shotgun Bunch Wide Nasty that attacks the middle and boundary with a five-man route combo. The outside receiver runs a vertical clear-out up the numbers while the two inside bunch receivers work a dig and out combo, with one receiver sitting on the dig at intermediate depth and the other breaking outside on the corner route to stretch the sideline. The remaining bunch receiver releases underneath on a short crossing route to give the quarterback a checkdown against pressure. This is a man beater that also has zone-beating traits: the dig sits in the soft spot of Cover 3 or Cover 4 zones while the crossing route creates natural separation against man defenders through traffic. Primary read progression starts with the dig coming across the middle, then works to the corner or out route on the boundary if the dig is capped, with the underneath crosser as the checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Read the safety depth pre-snap, if both safeties are deep and rotate late it usually signals Cover 4 or Cover 6 which can squeeze the dig route so be ready to work the corner or out instead. Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, if the middle linebacker sits shallow and does not carry the dig route across the field the throwing window opens up immediately. Key the flat defender or curl-flat zone defender, this play beats teams that spot drop into shallow zones but struggles against a hard-squeezing corner who jumps the underneath crosser. Look for a user-controlled lurk defender sitting in the middle hook zone, that player is the biggest threat to jumping the dig route so pump-fake or hold the ball to bait him before throwing. This concept gets shut down by disciplined Cover 3 sky or Cover 1 robber shells where a defender is specifically assigned to rob crossing routes, in those cases check down early or extend the play with your feet.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing single-high or two-high safeties since the dig route thrives against single-high looks where the middle of the field is open.
Use motion out of the bunch to confirm man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows across the formation you know you are getting man coverage and can lean on the dig or crosser for separation.
Hot route the underneath crosser into a shallow drag if you are facing a heavy blitz look, this gives the quarterback a hot throw answer against pressure.
Pair this play with Mesh Drive or Jet Shallow Swirl earlier in a series so the defense respects the quick game, then hit them with the deeper dig once linebackers start jumping short routes.
Best used on second or third and medium since the dig route needs time to develop and the sticks are within range of the intermediate breaking routes.
