Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Speed Dig comes out of Shotgun Bunch Y-Flex with 11 personnel and shows a five man route concept designed to attack zone coverage with a deep dig sitting behind shallow crossers. The three receiver bunch to the right releases with the outside man clearing vertically up the sideline (red) while the middle bunch receiver runs the namesake speed dig, breaking hard across the field at depth (yellow route bending from outside in). The backside receiver runs a deep comeback breaking to the sideline, and the running back releases out of the backfield on a check release flat route to give the quarterback an outlet against pressure. This is a zone beater at its core, using the dig to settle into soft spots between linebackers and safeties, with the deep comeback and vertical clear-out route creating a two level stretch on the boundary side.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if the backers are shallow and quick to sink into hook zones, the speed dig window will close faster and you need to speed up your read. Key the safety rotation post-snap, a two high shell that stays split creates the biggest throwing lane for the dig route to settle behind the linebackers. Look for the flat defender jumping the running back's check release route, this often signals man coverage underneath and opens up the dig sitting behind him. Against Cover 3, the deep comeback on the backside is the go to answer since the flat to deep quarter defender cannot cover both the sideline comeback and the vertical clear-out. If you see a nano blitz or user pressure off the edge pre-snap, get the ball out quickly to the running back's flat route rather than waiting on the dig to develop.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two high or single high safety look because Speed Dig thrives against two high shells where the dig can settle in the hole between the safeties and underneath linebackers.
Use the deep comeback route on the backside as a hot read against Cover 3 or Cover 4 if the corner sits soft, since it creates immediate separation off the break.
Check release the running back into the flat if you sense pressure off the edge, this gives you a checkdown while the dig develops down the field.
Pair this play with Curls Y Swirl or Verticals in your play-calling sequence to keep defenders guessing between shallow zone beaters and vertical shots from the same bunch look.
Best called on second and long or third and medium situations where the defense is more likely to sit in zone coverage and give the dig route time to work across the middle.
