Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Dig Stick is an Empty Backfield concept out of Shotgun Empty Chips Nasty that spreads five receivers across the field with no running back protection, forcing the offense to get the ball out quickly. The diagram shows a deep dig route crossing the field from the backside, a stick concept on the right side with a flat route and a hitch/stick sitting underneath, plus a corner route and a shallow drag working underneath to occupy zone defenders. This is a man and zone beater built on horizontal stretch: the primary read starts with the dig route breaking across the middle, working down to the stick combination on the right if the dig is taken away by a robber or underneath linebacker.
Defensive Reads
Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sinks hard to the dig route landmark that read is compromised and the quarterback should reset to the stick concept on the right. Identify two high safety shells pre-snap, this usually means the deep dig has a defender sitting on top of it and you should prioritize the quick game stick route instead. Post-snap, look for a user-controlled lurk defender sitting in the throwing lane of the dig route, a common tactic against empty sets to jump crossing routes. Cover 3 with a hard robber technique shuts down the dig route completely, but leaves the flat and stick combo open against the vacated underneath zone. Man coverage with no help over the top on the stick side is the biggest liability for the defense, get the ball out fast to the flat or hitch before a blitzing linebacker closes the throwing window.
Usage Tips
Check pre-snap for single high versus two high safety shells since the dig route sits down in the void against single high defenses that rotate a safety away from the throw side.
Against man coverage, key on the stick concept first because the flat and hitch combo creates a natural pick and rub that is tough for man defenders to fight through, especially against nano blitz pressure where you need a quick answer.
Use motion or a hot route audible on the drag route if you see zone blitz indicators like a linebacker cheating outside the box, this keeps a check down option alive when the empty formation gets pressured.
Best called on second and medium to third and medium situations where the defense is more likely to sit in zone coverage, since the dig route needs a beat to develop against a rolling shell.
Pair this play with Slot Sail or Dagger from the same set to keep defenders guessing between deep in-breaking routes and out-breaking sail concepts, this keeps linebackers honest and prevents them from jumping the dig route on film study.
