Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Speed Dig is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Empty Bunch Open with no running back in the backfield, using 11 personnel spread across the formation. From the bunch, the two outside receivers run a vertical seam up the numbers and a straight seam up the middle, while the three bunch receivers work a combo on the boundary side: one runs an out cutting away, one runs a deep dig crossing back over the middle, and the third releases into a corner route toward the sideline. This is a man beater built to attack off leverage and picks created by the bunch alignment, with the dig sitting down in the void behind underneath zone defenders as the primary read against zone coverage.
Defensive Reads
Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits shallow and does not carry the dig across the field this play will gash Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells. Key the safety rotation, a single high safety rolling late signals man coverage underneath which puts more stress on the dig winning at the break point. User the underneath zone defender in the middle of the field since a well timed lurk can jump the dig route before it sits down in the window. Look for disguised Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties, this can take away both the corner route and the vertical seam, forcing the quarterback to rely on the dig or check down. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can beat this play if the protection is not adjusted, since the dig takes time to develop and the quarterback needs a clean pocket.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify whether the defense is showing man or zone by watching the bunch alignment defenders, if they bail hard at the snap it is likely zone and the dig will sit in the window.
Use the vertical seam and corner route as clear out threats to open the dig, especially against single high safety looks like Cover 1 or Cover 3.
This play shines on second and long or third and medium since the dig route needs time to develop and cross the field.
Hot route the flat runner into a shallow drag if you see man coverage with a linebacker showing blitz, this gives you a quick outlet against pressure.
Pair Speed Dig with Mesh Cross or Cheat Mesh from this same set to keep the defense guessing between quick underneath combos and a deeper crossing shot play.
