Playbooks

Speed Dig

Shotgun·Bunch Wide·11
DigPass Play
Play diagram for Speed Dig from Shotgun Bunch Wide in Madden 27

Quick Reference

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In 3 playbooks

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Breakdown

Speed Dig deploys three receivers from the Bunch Wide alignment with the backside receiver running a deep out breaking to the sideline. From the bunch, one receiver runs a deep dig that settles across the middle of the field, another works a corner route toward the sideline, and the third clears out underneath before breaking outside. The HB releases from the backfield on a wheel or seam route up the boundary, giving the QB a vertical stretch on both sides of the field. This is a man beater at its core, using the dig to sit down in the throwing lane against man coverage while the corner and out routes occupy the deep defenders, though the deep dig also settles nicely into soft zone holes over the middle. Primary read progression starts with the deep dig sitting in the void created by the corner route clearing out, then works to the corner route if the dig is taken away, with the backside deep out as the outlet against zone rotation.

Defensive Reads

Read the middle linebacker depth at the snap since a shallow drop signals he will try to jump the dig route as it crosses the field. Watch for a user controlled safety sitting in the deep middle third, which is the biggest threat to the dig and can bait the QB into a costly turnover. Identify press man coverage on the bunch receivers pre-snap, since this play thrives when defenders are forced to play off or trail through traffic. Check for Cover 3 buzz rotations where the flat defender bails late, which can undercut the deep out route on the backside. Blitz packages that send extra rushers up the middle can disrupt the timing needed for the dig to develop, so identify overload fronts before the snap and be ready to check into a quicker hot route or check down to the HB.

Usage Tips

Use this on second and long or third and medium when you need a chunk play over the middle of the field. Check pre-snap for single high safety looks, since the dig sits perfectly in the void vacated by a rotating safety. If you see two deep safeties splitting the field, prioritize the corner route since the dig may be squeezed by underneath zone defenders sliding late. Motion the bunch receiver before the snap to diagnose man versus zone based on whether a defender follows across the formation. Pair this with Cross Screen or Curl Flat from the same set to keep defenses honest on shorter throws before hitting them with the deeper Speed Dig look. Against aggressive man coverage teams, hot route the HB wheel route earlier in the route tree to punish linebackers who bite on the dig.

Other Plays in Bunch Wide