Playbooks

Speed Dig

Shotgun·Bunch Y-Flex·11
DigPass Play
Play diagram for Speed Dig from Shotgun Bunch Y-Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

Speed Dig is a five-man route concept out of Shotgun Bunch Y-Flex that overloads the field with a bunch alignment to attack zone leverage and create natural rub separation against man coverage. The two outside receivers from the bunch push vertical before breaking, with one running a deep out and pivoting upfield while the other clears out with a corner route, and the third bunch receiver runs the namesake speed dig, working across the middle on a hard in-breaking route to sit in the void behind linebackers and in front of safeties. The backside receiver runs a deep dig or crosser toward the opposite hash while the RB releases up the middle on a check release option route. The primary read is the speed dig working across the field, with the deep corner and backside crosser as the second and third progressions if the middle window is taken away.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check safety depth and spacing, two high shells with soft corners invite the speed dig into the intermediate window. Watch for a linebacker or nickel defender sitting in the middle hook zone, since that defender directly threatens the dig route and can jump the throw if the QB is late. Man coverage without a deep safety rotating over is vulnerable to the corner route beating its defender vertically off the bunch rub. Blitz-heavy fronts with man coverage behind them can be exposed if the RB's check release finds a soft spot, since the extra rusher removes a coverage defender from the shallow area. Cover 3 with a hard-sinking flat defender can undercut the speed dig if the quarterback does not anticipate the throw before the route fully breaks, so timing the release before the dig sits is critical.

Usage Tips

Use this on second or third and medium to long, since the speed dig needs a few beats to develop and clear the underneath zone.

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing single high or two high safeties, this concept thrives against single high because the dig sits behind the linebackers and in front of the deep safety.

If you see man coverage with no help over the top, hot route the corner route receiver to speed up his release so he can win vertically before the dig window closes.

Pair Speed Dig with HB Choice or Curls Y Swirl from the same set to keep the defense guessing between a middle-of-field crosser and quick underneath option routes.

Against zone coverage, key the middle linebacker's drop, if he sinks with the dig, look immediately to the backside crosser or the RB check release for a leverage throw.

Other Plays in Bunch Y-Flex