Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Slant Spacing Dig is a bunch-based pass concept out of Shotgun Bunch Wide with 11 personnel. To the bunch side, the outside receiver runs a deep dig across the middle, the inside bunch receiver works a quick out and up combo into the flat, and the third bunch receiver settles underneath on a spacing route. On the backside, the isolated receiver runs a hard slant that stems up and away from the line. This concept is designed as both a Cover 3 and Cover 4 beater, attacking underneath zone voids while the dig stretches the middle hole. The primary read starts with the backside slant against man leverage, then progresses to the deep dig sitting behind the linebackers if the defense is playing zone.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the safeties are showing two-high or rotating to single-high, since that dictates whether the dig or the slant will be open first. Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink hard into zone drops the spacing route underneath becomes the checkdown against soft zone coverage. User the middle linebacker or a lurking safety to jump the dig route, since that is the biggest explosive play risk in this concept. Man coverage with inside leverage on the backside slant defender will shut down the fastest read, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball and work through the progression. Disguised blitzes that bring extra rushers off the edge can beat this play quickly since the protection has to hold up for the dig to develop downfield.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment pre-snap to determine if you are facing a two-high shell or single-high look, since this concept punishes both Cover 3 and Cover 4 if you read it correctly.
Use the backside slant as your first read against man coverage, especially if the corner is playing off or shaded outside.
If the defense rotates to zone post-snap, work your eyes to the dig route sitting in the honey hole between the underneath zone and deep safeties.
This play pairs well with Curl Flat or Spacing from the same set since the pre-snap motion and route stems look similar, keeping defenders guessing on run fits and coverage rotation.
Best called on second or third and medium when you need a chain-moving conversion with a built-in explosive shot on the dig.
