Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Speed Dig lines up out of Shotgun Bunch X Nasty with a bunch alignment to the play side. The bunch receivers run a deep clear out to the sideline, a speed dig sitting down over the middle, and an outside receiver pushing vertical before breaking back to the corner, while the backfield player runs a quick shallow drag underneath. This is a man beater built to create natural rub traffic at the release point, with the primary read progression going from the speed dig in the middle of the field to the corner breaking route, and the shallow drag as the checkdown against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check corner depth and alignment on the bunch since press man alignment signals this play should hit big due to the natural rub concept disrupting man coverage leverage. Post-snap, key the middle linebacker's drop since a slow or shallow drop opens a throwing lane for the speed dig sitting in the intermediate middle of the field. Watch for a deep half safety rotating over the corner route since that indicates two high shell and the quarterback should progress to the dig read instead of forcing the corner. Identify blitz packages by reading the alignment of the second level defenders since a nano blitz off the edge will force an immediate check to the shallow drag for a quick, safe completion. Zone coverage with underneath defenders sitting in hook zones can clog the speed dig window, so look for the throwing lane to open only after the shallow drag pulls a linebacker away.
Usage Tips
Look for man coverage indicators pre-snap such as corners lined up tight on the bunch since the natural rub from the tight alignment creates easy separation on the speed dig.
Use the shallow drag as your dump off option versus any pressure look since it clears out underneath quickly and gives you a built in answer against blitzes.
Hot route the corner route receiver into a deep out or comeback if you see a deep half safety sitting over the top to prevent the corner route from getting picked off.
Pair this play with Mtn Speed Dig Under or Choice Shallow Dig in your play calling sequence to keep defenses guessing between the standard dig read and variations that attack underneath zones differently.
Best called on second and medium to second and long since the speed dig needs a few extra seconds to develop but hits fast enough to stay ahead of the sticks.
