Playbooks

SE Dig

Shotgun·Doubles Offset·11
DigPass Play
Play diagram for SE Dig from Shotgun Doubles Offset in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

Jaguars OffenseOffenseNFL Live Jaguars OffenseOffense

Breakdown

SE Dig is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Doubles Offset that isolates the boundary receiver on a dig route running from the numbers back across the middle of the field. The backside receivers run a deep out and a shallow flat crosser to clear space, while the play side stacks a corner route and a flat route to hold the safety and underneath defender, opening the window for the dig. This is a zone beater designed to sit the dig in the soft spot behind linebackers and in front of safeties, with the primary read being the SE dig on a full field progression that starts backside if the underneath defenders jump the crosser.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify the strength of the defensive shell by checking safety depth and cornerback alignment on the play side, since a single high safety often signals man coverage that opens up the dig against a slower linebacker. Watch the middle linebacker or nickel defender at the snap, if he sinks with the dig route and stays square, the window will be tight and you should look to the checkdown or backside out route instead. Zone drops from Cover 3 or Cover 4 defenders responsible for the intermediate middle third are the biggest threat to this concept, so identify any user controlled lurk defender sitting in that area before committing to the dig. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can disrupt the timing of the dig route, so check protection and consider a quick checkdown to the flat route if you see pressure showing pre-snap. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the ideal matchup for this play, since the dig route can create instant separation with a good break against a trailing corner or linebacker.

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into showing man or zone before the snap, since the dig route needs a clean throwing lane through the intermediate zone. Diagnose two high safety shells first: against Cover 2 or Cover 4 the dig sits nicely between the underneath zone and the deep safeties, but against Cover 3 you may need to speed up your read and get the ball out before the flat defender can climb into the throwing window. Hot route the backside out route into a deeper comeback against aggressive zone defenses that jump short routes, and consider clicking the flat route into a flat or drag if you see man coverage to create rub potential. This play works best on second or third and medium situations where the dig route depth of ten to twelve yards matches the sticks. Pair SE Dig with Double Slants or Mesh Spot in your play calling sequence so that if defenders start jumping the intermediate dig, you can switch to quick game concepts that attack the same underneath zones faster.

Other Plays in Doubles Offset