Playbooks
Breakdown
Dig Return is a man beating pass concept out of Shotgun Bunch Wide with 11 personnel that uses a jet motion tag to stress the defense pre snap. Off the bunch, one receiver breaks outside then digs back across the middle, another runs a deep return route working back to the sideline after clearing vertically, and the third clears out on a corner style route toward the sideline to hold the flat defender. The primary read progression starts with the dig coming across the middle since it settles into open grass against man coverage, then works to the return route breaking back outside if the underneath defenders sink with the dig, and finally to the corner route as a checkdown against overplayed inside coverage.
Defensive Reads
Read the linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard to take away the dig the return route breaking back outside becomes the answer. Watch for a single high safety shell, Cover 1 and Cover 3 leave the dig route vulnerable once it clears the second level defenders. Key the motion defender, man coverage teams will mirror the jet motion across the formation which confirms man beater routes are live. Look for a user controlled defender sitting in the throwing lane of the dig, that lurk threat is the biggest coverage killer for this concept. Diagnose blitz packages pre snap, if the defense brings extra rushers off the edge the quarterback must get the ball out on the corner route quickly instead of waiting on the dig to develop.
Usage Tips
Use the pre snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows across the formation you have a man beater lined up in your favor.
Attack this on second and medium to second and long when defenses expect a quicker route concept, the dig needs a full breath to develop.
Hot route the corner route runner into a shallow drag if you see a heavy zone shell to give yourself a faster underneath outlet against Cover 3 or Cover 4.
Pair this play with Curl Flat or Slot Hook earlier in a drive so linebackers sit on shorter routes, then hit them with the dig once they start jumping underneath throws.
Use max protect blocking adjustments against exotic pressure looks since the dig route takes time to develop and the quarterback needs a clean pocket to let it work.
