Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Speed Dig lines up out of Shotgun Bunch with three receivers stacked to one side and a single blocking back. The bunch releases into a deep dig from the inside receiver crossing the field underneath a corner route from the outside bunch man, while the tight end runs a quick sit route in the flat area near the boundary and the running back pivots into a check release out of the backfield. This is a man beater built on the natural rub from the bunch alignment, with the primary read progression starting on the deep dig as it clears traffic, then working down to the corner route and finally the check release back if the middle of the field stays clogged.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a single high safety pre-snap, which signals man coverage underneath and opens up the dig route as the primary window. If the defense shows two deep safeties, expect zone coverage that may clog the dig lane, so shift focus to the corner route or check release back. Key on linebacker depth at the snap, since shallow linebackers can jump the dig route and force you to hold the ball longer. Look for user-controlled defenders flowing to the bunch side immediately after the snap, which often signals a lurk defender sitting on the crossing route. Cover 3 zone drops with a fast flowing middle linebacker can undercut the dig route, so be ready to check down to the running back on the pivot route if the window closes.
Usage Tips
Attack single high safety looks and off man coverage where the dig route can exploit the natural rub created by the bunch alignment.
Use pre-snap motion or a hot route on the check release back to identify if the defense is bringing pressure or dropping into a zone shell before the snap.
Take the corner route shot when you see a cornerback playing tight man on the outside bunch receiver, since the rub will create separation quickly.
Pair this play with Bunch Verts or Bunch Sail in your play-calling sequence to keep defenses honest, since both plays use the same bunch look but attack different levels of the field.
Best called on second and long or third and medium situations where the dig route has enough space to sit down in a soft window between levels of the defense.
