Playbooks
Falcons X Dig is a dropback passing concept out of Shotgun Split Cowboy 11 personnel built around a deep dig route breaking across the middle from the X receiver, paired with a corner or streak route on the opposite side and an underneath crosser to hold the flat defenders. It functions as a man beater first, since the dig sits down in the void created when the corner runs downfield with a vertical stem, but it also has zone beater qualities against Cover 3 because the dig settles in the hole between the hook and deep third defenders. The primary read progression starts with the deep shot to the outside vertical route, then works to the X dig crossing the field, and finishes with the underneath drag or check down to the running back if the middle is clogged.
Pre-snap, identify whether the corner over the X receiver is playing press or off man, since press coverage forces a longer stem that delays the dig and gives underneath zone defenders time to rally. Read linebacker depth at the snap, shallow depth linebackers who stay in short zones will clog the dig's crossing lane, so be ready to check down to the flat or drag route instead. Watch for a Cover 3 sky or buzz rotation where the safety and corner flip responsibilities, since a defender sinking into the deep middle hole late can undercut the dig if the throw is delayed. This concept struggles against Cover 4 quarters shells with disciplined linebackers who wall off the dig at the hash, so be ready to work the check down or the outside vertical route as your primary answer. Blitz packages that bring extra defenders through the A gaps will collapse the pocket before the dig fully develops, so identify Mike linebacker pressure pre-snap and get the ball out on rhythm or use a hot route sight adjust on the crosser.
Use pre-snap motion across the formation to identify man versus zone before the snap, since a defender following the motion man confirms man coverage and tells you the dig will have room to sit down against off man technique.
Look at safety depth before the snap, two deep safeties with soft corners signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 where the dig should be hot routed to break at a shallower depth to sit in front of the safety rotation.
This play is best called on second and medium to third and long, giving the dig route enough time to develop and cross the field into the void.
Pair this play with Bronco Cross or Slot Cross earlier in a drive so the defense grows conditioned to shorter crossing routes, then hit them with the deeper X dig timing when linebackers jump the short stuff.
If you see the user controlling the middle linebacker or lurking underneath, hot route the dig to break slightly deeper past the lurk defender's drop zone and lead your throw to the far shoulder away from the defender.