Playbooks
X Dig out of Shotgun Duo Offset is a man beater built around the X receiver working a hard dig route across the middle of the field, sitting down in the void between linebackers and safeties. The concept typically pairs the dig with a deep clear out or corner route from the opposite side to occupy the safety help, while underneath routes hold linebackers and flood the shallow zone to open the window for the dig. Your primary read starts with the X receiver on the dig, working from outside to inside as he crosses the field, and if he is blanketed you progress to the underneath check down or the backside route depending on coverage rotation.
Read the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sinks too deep into his zone drop the dig will have a clean window right underneath him for an easy pitch and catch. Identify single high safety pre-snap, this is the green light for X Dig since man coverage or Cover 3 with a lone deep defender cannot cover the width of the field the dig attacks. Watch for a user controlled linebacker sitting in the shallow zone or spying the quarterback, this is the biggest threat to the dig route timing and can bait your quarterback into an interception if the throw is forced. Recognize two high safety shells like Cover 2 or Cover 4, these shells clog the intermediate middle of the field and force you to check down quickly rather than force the dig read. Key on blitz packages with a nano blitz or extra rusher off the edge, since the dig route takes time to develop, quick pressure disrupts the timing and forces your quarterback into checking down before the primary read is open.
Use this play on second and medium or third and medium situations where linebackers are more willing to sit in shallow zones and where the dig route can settle into a natural throwing window.
Before the snap identify if the defense is showing single high or two high safety look, since single high man coverage is where X Dig thrives because the dig naturally sits in the void vacated by the deep safety.
Hot route the underneath crossing or flat routes to a spot conversion or drag if you see a heavy blitz look, this gives your quarterback a faster outlet against pressure while still keeping the dig alive.
Pair this play with Slot Cross or Double Snag in your play calling sequence to keep the defense guessing between intermediate crossing concepts and quick game, this forces linebackers to widen their zone drops and opens the dig lane even further.
Look to attack Cover 3 sink or Cover 1 with this play, since the dig sits right in the seam between the hook defenders and the deep third, giving your quarterback a layup throwing window if you time the throw with the receiver's break.