Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
SE Dig lines up from Shotgun Doubles Offset with 11 personnel and shows a five man route concept designed to attack zone drops and beat man coverage with a hard break. The backside receiver runs an inside dig, the two receivers to the play side stack a corner route and a flat/wheel combo, the slot runs a deep vertical seam, and the tight end works a shallow drag underneath from the backfield alignment. Primary read starts with the dig coming across the middle, then works to the seam vertical if the linebackers sink under the dig, and checks down to the underneath drag or flat route against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety shells since a single high safety opens the window for the dig to sit in the middle voids. Watch the underneath linebackers at the snap because if they sink hard into the dig lane, the seam vertical becomes the higher value throw. Against man coverage, key the corner on the dig route: if he opens his hips early to the sideline, the inside break should win clean separation. Look for a user controlled defender lurking in the middle zone since a rover or mike linebacker sitting in the throwing lane can bait a costly interception on the dig. This play is vulnerable to disguised zone blitzes where the underneath defenders drop into the dig and seam lanes simultaneously, so be ready to check down to the drag or flat route immediately.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into showing blitz or zone drop before the snap.
This play excels on second and medium to third and long because the dig route needs room to develop and the flat route gives you a checkdown against pressure.
If the corner shows hard press man coverage on the dig receiver, hot route him to a slant or speed up his release to win off the line.
Pair SE Dig with Four Verticals and PA Go Dig Post in the same set to keep defenders honest on the deep middle, since all three plays put stress on the safety over the top.
Against Cover 3, prioritize the dig over the middle hole and be ready to reset your throwing lane if the underneath linebacker sits in the zone.
Use the shallow drag as a built in answer to spy or edge pressure since it clears the underneath zone quickly and gives a safe checkdown.
