Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Sail Dig is a five man protection pass concept out of Shotgun Doubles HB Wk that stretches the field horizontally and vertically to attack both zone and man coverage. To the boundary, the two receivers run a corner route and an out route stacked underneath it, while the backside single receiver runs a deep crossing dig route that settles in the middle of the field. The HB checks release out of the backfield on a shallow drag underneath everything, giving the QB a built in checkdown against pressure. Primary read progression starts with the sail (corner) route to the flat out, then works back across the field to the dig, using the HB drag as the last resort outlet.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and corner alignment to diagnose two high shells versus single high looks, since this play has a built in answer for both. If you are playing zone coverage, sit a linebacker or safety in the deep middle void where the dig route settles, since that is the throw the offense wants most against Cover 3. Against Cover 2, user the underneath flat defender and force him to choose between the out route and the corner route, since both routes attack the same landmark on different levels. Watch for the HB checking into a drag route out of the backfield, and if you are blitzing, assign a spy or fast linebacker underneath to take away that checkdown before it becomes an easy completion. Man coverage defenders should trail the dig route tightly through the crossing traffic, since natural picks from other routes can create separation if the defender loses contact.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the safeties are showing two high or rotating to single high, since this concept punishes both Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells differently.
Against Cover 2, the corner route occupies the deep half defender while the out route sits underneath the corner in the vacated flat, so throw the out quickly before the underneath zone defender can widen.
Against Cover 3, the dig route is your primary answer since it crosses into the void behind the underneath defenders and in front of the deep third, so climb the pocket and hit it on time.
Use the HB drag as your answer to a blitz look, especially if you see linebackers crashing off the edge or a nano blitz pre-snap, since it releases quickly and gives you a built in checkdown.
Pair this play with Y Cross or Double Cross in the same set to keep the defense guessing between horizontal stretch concepts and crossing routes, and mix in RPO Peek Slant on early downs to keep linebackers honest before dialing up Sail Dig on second or third down passing situations.
