Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Digs is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Doubles Offset Wk that uses a run fake to hold the linebackers before working two deep dig routes across the middle of the field. Off the play fake, the backside receiver runs a corner route up the sideline while the outside receiver on that side clears out on a deep vertical, and the underneath receiver near the formation runs a short flat/drag to hold the shallow defenders. The primary read progression starts with the shallow drag as a checkdown, then works to the intermediate dig sitting behind the linebackers, and finally to the deep corner route if the safety bites on the play fake.
Defensive Reads
Watch for two deep safeties versus one high safety at the snap: one high alignment signals middle of field closed coverage like Cover 3 or Cover 1, which puts more pressure on the underneath dig window against zone drops. If linebackers are showing blitz depth or crowding the line pre-snap, expect a nano blitz or delayed pressure package designed to disrupt the play-action fake before the digs develop. Post-snap, track the middle linebacker's drop: if he sinks hard to the dig window instead of biting on the run fake, the play-action element failed and the quarterback should reset to the shallow drag or check down quickly. Man coverage with underneath robber or lurk defenders is the biggest threat to the dig routes, since a user-controlled defender sitting in the throwing lane can jump the route for a pick if the quarterback holds the ball too long. Zone coverage with soft cushions and sped-up linebacker drops (common in Cover 4 or Cover 2 shells) tends to shut down the digs, so look to bail to the deep corner route or the flat route instead of forcing the throw into a crowded zone.
Usage Tips
Sell the run fake with a hard commit on the play-action animation to freeze linebackers and hold the underneath zone defenders long enough for the dig windows to open.
Use this on second or third and medium situations where defenses respect the run and are more likely to bite on the play-action, especially against teams that load the box against Doubles Offset Wk run concepts.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap: if you see two high safeties sitting deep, the digs will have more room to breathe underneath since the corner route is a lower priority read.
Pair this call with Inside Zone or Outside Zone from the same set earlier in a series so the defense keys run action off similar splits, making the play-action freeze even more effective on PA Digs.
Against man coverage, hot route the shallow drag into a quicker breaking route if you see press corners, since the drag can get picked off by lingering defenders if the route sits too long.
