Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Dig Y-out is a Shotgun Split Close man beater built around a deep dig from the boundary and a Y-out breaking underneath from the tight end, creating a natural high low read on any linebacker or safety trying to sink into the middle of the field. The backside typically works an out or comeback to hold the corner, while the underneath route from the backfield gives you a checkdown against blitz. Primary progression starts with the dig against off man or Cover 3 hole defenders, then works down to the Y-out sitting in the void underneath, and finally checks to the backfield outlet if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Watch the middle linebacker or hook defender at the snap, if he sinks too deep to cover the dig the Y-out will be wide open in the vacated underneath zone. Man coverage with a single high safety is the biggest liability against this play since the dig can settle in the soft spot before the safety can rotate over, so respect any Cloud or Cover 1 look pre-snap. Cover 3 with a fast flowing hook defender or a user controlled linebacker sitting in the intermediate zone can take away both the dig and the Y-out, forcing you to check down immediately. Look for corners playing hard outside leverage in man, this tells you the dig has a clean angle to break inside without getting jumped. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge will pressure the quarterback before the dig fully develops, so identify overload fronts pre-snap and be ready to get the ball out on the quicker Y-out or backfield option instead.
Usage Tips
Diagnose the coverage shell before the snap by checking the safeties, if you see two high with corners playing off, the dig has room to work between the numbers and the hash. If linebackers show blitz depth or walk up to the line, hot route the outlet receiver into a quick flat or slide him to the open side to beat pressure. Use motion out of the backfield to identify man coverage early, if a defender follows across the formation you know you are getting man and can trust the dig to sit down in the window behind it. Pair this play with Dig Slot Out or Pivot Dig on back to back snaps so the defense has to respect multiple in cutting routes from the same formation, this keeps linebackers honest and slows their reaction to the Y-out. Best used on second and medium or third and short to medium where the sticks match the depth of the Y-out route, giving you a high percentage completion with the dig as your explosive shot if the defense bites on the underneath route.
